,,lectures ,,on ,,bible ,,revision4 ,with an ,appendix ,,containing ,,the ,,prefaces ,,to ,,the ,,chief ,,historical ,,editions ,,of ,,the ,,english ,,bible4 ,,by ,,samuel ,,newth1 ,m4,a41 ,d4,d41 ,,principal1 ,,and ,,lee ,,professor ,,of ,,divinity1 ,,new ,,college1 ,,london2 ,,member ,,of ,,the ,,new ,,testament ,,company ,,of ,,revisers4 ,,london3 ,,hodder ,,and ,,stoughton1 #bg1 ,,paternoster ,,row4 ,,mdccclxxxi4 ,all rights reserved4 ,,preface4 ,the following work is especially intended for ,sunday-school and ,bible-class teachers1 and for such others as from any cause may be unable to consult many books or to read lengthened treatises4 ,it has seemed to me to be of great importance that those who are engaged in the responsible service of teaching the young1 and to whom the ,bible is the constant source of appeal1 should be able both to take up an intelligent position in regard to the new revision of the ,english ,scriptures1 and to meet the various enquiries that will be made respecting it by those about them4 ,i have therefore endeavoured to provide for their use1 in a compendious form1 a survey of the general argument for revision1 and of the facts which exhibit the present duty of ,christian men in relation thereto4 ,in the execution of this purpose it has been necessary to direct attention to the chief stages in the growth of the ,english ,bible1 but this has been done only so far as seemed to be requisite for the illustration of the main argument4 ,those who may desire to study this part of the subject more at length are referred to the full and interesting volumes of ,dr4 ,eadie1 or to the convenient manuals published by ,dr4 ,moulton and by ,dr4 ,stoughton4 ,such as may wish to investigate more minutely the internal history of the ,authorized ,version will find ,dr4 ,westcott's ,general ,view of the ,history of the ,english ,bible a most trustworthy and invaluable guide4 ,in the ,appendix ,i have brought together the prologues or prefaces to the chief historical editions of the ,english ,bible4 ,some of these are not of easy access to ordinary readers1 while all are of deep and lasting interest4 ,they will abundantly repay a careful perusal4 ,the reader will thereby1 more readily than in any other way1 come into personal contact with the noble men to whose self-denying labours our country and the world are so deeply indebted2 will learn what was the spirit which animated them1 and what were the aims and methods of their toil2 and1 in addition to much wise instruction respecting the study of the word of ,god1 will learn how the deepest love and reverence for the ,bible are not only tolerant of changes in its outward form1 but will indeed imperatively demand them whenever needed for the more faithful exhibition of the truth it enshrines4 ,it has formed no part of my purpose either to exhibit or to justify the changes which have been made in the revision in which ,i have had the honour and the responsibility of sharing4 ,the former will best be learnt from the perusal of the ,revised ,version itself2 the latter it would be unbecoming in me to undertake4 ,the ultimate decision respecting them must rest upon the concurrent judgment of the wisest and most learned2 and they who are the most competent to judge will be the least hasty in giving judgment1 for they best know how difficult and delicate is the translator's task1 and how manifold1 and sometimes how subtle1 are the various considerations which determine his rendering4 ,nor indeed would any such attempt be possible within the limits ,i have here assigned to myself4 ,to be properly done it would require an appeal to special learning which ,i have no right to assume in my readers1 and to habits of scholarly investigation which ,i may not presuppose4 ,to the bulk of my readers the one justification for the changes they will discover in the ,revised ,new ,testament must practically rest in the fact that those who have for more than ten years conscientiously and diligently laboured in this matter1 and who have with such anxious care revised and re-revised their work1 have been constrained to the conclusion that in this way they would most faithfully and clearly present the sense of the sacred ,word4 ,may ,he whose word it is graciously accept their service1 and deign to use it for ,his glory4 ,,new ,,college1 ,april #bf1 #ahha4 ,,contents4 ,page ,,lecture ,i4 ,,substance ,,and ,,form #a ,,lecture ,,ii4 ,,the ,,growth ,,of ,,the ,,english ,,bible #aa ,,lecture ,,iii4 ,,the ,,further ,,growth ,,of ,,the ,,english ,,bible #be ,,lecture ,,iv4 ,,the ,,revision ,,of #afaa4 ,,the ,,so-,,called ,,authorized ,,version #ci ,,lecture ,v4 ,,revision ,a ,,recurring ,,necessity #ea ,,lecture ,,vi4 ,,on ,,the ,,imperfect ,,renderings ,,introduced ,,or ,,retained ,,in ,,the ,,revision ,,of #afaa #fa ,,lecture ,,vii4 ,,on ,,the ,,original ,,texts ,,as ,,known ,,in #afaa1 ,,and ,,as ,,now ,,known #gi ,,lecture ,,viii4 ,,the ,,preparations ,,for ,,further ,,revision ,,made ,,during ,,the ,,past ,,two ,,centuries #ia ,,lecture ,,ix4 ,,the ,,revision ,,of #ahha #aje ,,appendix4 7,a47 ,,purvey',s ,,prologue ,,to ,,the ,,wycliffite ,,bible4 ,,ch4 ,,xv4 #abi 7,b47 ,,tyndale',s ,,prologues #acg 7,c47 ,,coverdale',s ,,prologue ,,to ,,his ,,bible ,,of #aece #afj 7,d47 ,,preface ,,to ,,the ,,genevan ,,bible4 #aefj #agb 7,e47 ,,preface ,,to ,,the ,,bishops' ,,bible4 #aefh #agg 7,f47 ,,preface ,,to ,,the ,,revision ,,of #afaa #aii 7,g47 ,,the ,,revisers ,,of #aefh #bce 7,h47 ,,the ,,revisers ,,of #afaa #bcg ,,lectures ,,on ,,bible ,,revision4 ,,lecture ,i4 ,,substance ,,and ,,form4 ,there are probably devout persons not a few in whose minds the mere suggestion of a ,revision of the ,scriptures arouses a feeling of mingled pain and surprise4 ,in that ,bible which they received from their fathers in the trustful confidence of childhood1 they have heard the voice of ,god speaking to their souls4 ,not from any testimony given to them by others1 but from their own lengthened and varied experience of it1 they know it to be the ,father's gift unto ,his children4 ,it has quickened1 guided1 and strengthened them1 as no human words had ever done1 answering the deepest cravings of their nature1 stimulating them to endeavours after a nobler life1 and enkindling within them the confidence of a sure and blessed hope4 ,that it is from heaven1 and not from men1 they know1 not because of what has been told them1 but from what they themselves have seen and learnt2 and they need no further evidence of its inspiration than the fact that it has opened their eyes to a knowledge of themselves1 and to a perception of the loveliness of ,christ4 ,that any should dare to meddle with a book so precious and so honoured1 seems to them a sacrilegious act1 and a ,revision of the ,holy ,scriptures is to them a presumptuous attempt to improve upon the handiwork of ,god4 ,in this feeling there is much with which every ,christian man will warmly sympathize2 but there is in it also something that calls for correction and instruction4 ,there is need here1 as elsewhere1 of careful thought and self-discipline1 lest1 by confounding things that differ1 we transfer our reverence for what is ,god-given and divine to what is only human1 and therefore fallible4 ,a little consideration will suffice to show that1 in such a matter as this1 it is peculiarly important to distinguish between substance and form1 between what is essential and permanent and what is accidental and variable4 ,by the substance of the ,bible we mean the statements which1 in various ways and diverse manners1 it presents to our thoughts2 the precepts and the promises1 the histories and the prophecies1 the doctrines and the prayers1 the truths about ,god and about man1 through which our minds are instructed1 our consciences enlightened1 and our hearts established by grace4 ,by the form of the ,bible1 we mean the signs or sounds by which the various statements contained in the ,bible are presented to us1 and which are1 as it were1 the channel through which the truths it teaches are conveyed to our minds4 ,it will be obvious upon the least consideration1 that the kind and degree of reverence which it is right to entertain towards the form of ,scripture1 is very different from that which it behoves us to cherish for the substance of ,scripture4 ,respecting the latter1 it is fitting to watch with all jealousy that no man add unto it or take from it2 it is precious for its own sake4 ,not so1 however1 with the former2 its worth is not in itself1 but only in that which it enshrines4 ,the two sentences-- 8,this is a faithful saying1 and worthy of all acceptation1 that ,christ ,jesus came into the world to save sinners10 8,gwir yw'r gair ac yn haeddu pob derbyniad1 ddyfod ,crist ,iesu i'r byd i gadw pechaduriaid10 are very different in form1 whether judged by the eye or the ear1 and yet the truth conveyed by the former to an ,englishman1 or by the latter to a ,welshman1 is essentially the same4 ,and although one who had learnt to prize that truth under either of the forms here given would naturally cherish also the very words by which it had been taught him1 his reverence for the truth would impel him to adopt the other form in preference whenever that might be the better instrument for conveying it to another4 ,changes1 therefore1 in the form of ,scripture may be lawful and right4 ,moreover1 as a matter of history1 the form of ,scripture has1 from the very beginning1 been passing through a continued succession of changes1 and with this fact it is most important that the ,bible student should familiarize himself4 ,these changes may be arranged under two general classes4 ,one class of changes has arisen out of the perishable nature of the documents1 of which the ,bible at the first consisted4 ,it is scarcely needful to state that we do not now possess the original copies of any of the books of the ,old or the ,new ,testament4 ,even while these were still in existence it was necessary to transcribe them in order that many persons in many places might possess and read them4 ,in the work of transcription1 however careful the transcriber might have been1 errors of various kinds necessarily arose2 some from mistaking one letter for another2 some from failure of memory1 if the scribe were writing from dictation2 and some from occasional oversight1 if he were writing from a copy before him2 some from momentary lapses of attention1 when his hand wrote on without his guidance2 and some from an attempt to correct a real or fancied error in the work of his predecessor4 ,if any of my readers will make an experiment by copying a passage of some length from any printed book1 and then hand over his manuscript to a friend with a request to copy it1 and afterwards pass on the copy so made to a third1 and so on in succession through a list of ten or a dozen persons1 each copying the manuscript of the one before him in the list1 he will1 on comparing the last with the printed book1 have a vivid and interesting illustration of the number and kind of variations that arise in the process of transcription4 ,in the case1 therefore1 of even very early copies of any of the books of the ,scriptures1 some sort of revision would become necessary1 and the deeper the reverence for the book1 the more obligatory would the duty of making such a revision be felt to be1 and the more earnestly and readily would it be undertaken4 ,so long as the original copies were in existence and accessible this work of revision would be comparatively easy and simple4 ,it would call only for the ability to make careful and patient comparison4 ,but when the originals could no longer be appealed to1 and when1 moreover1 successive transcription had gone on through many generations1 the work would become much more complex and difficult1 calling for much knowledge and much persevering research1 for a mind skilled in the appreciation of evidence1 and able to judge calmly between conflicting testimony4 ,at the same time1 the need for revision would to some extent be greater than before4 ,i say to some extent1 because the natural multiplication of errors arising from successive transcription through many centuries1 has in the case of the ,scriptures been very largely checked4 ,the special reverence felt for this book beyond other books led to the exercise of special care in the preparation of ,biblical manuscripts1 and special precautions were taken to guard them as far as possible from any variation4 ,owing to these and other causes a larger measure of uniformity is found in the later than in the earlier manuscripts now extant4 ,a second class of changes in the form of the ,scriptures has arisen from the natural growth and development of language4 ,the earliest ,bible of which we have any historical knowledge was in the form of a roll1 made probably of skins1 containing the five books of ,moses1 and written in the ,hebrew language4 ,this was described as 8the ,book of the ,law of the ,lord given by ,moses0 7#b ,chron4 xxxiv4 #ad72 more briefly as 8the ,book of the ,law of ,moses0 7,joshua viii4 #ca2 #b ,kings xiv4 #f2 ,neh4 viii4 #a71 or as 8the ,book of the ,law of ,god0 7,neh4 viii4 #h72 and more briefly still as 8the ,book of the ,law0 7#b ,kings xxii4 #h71 or as 8the ,book of ,moses40 7,ezra vi4 #ah2 ,mark xii4 #bf47 ,two other collections of sacred books were subsequently added1 known respectively as the ,prophets and the ,holy ,writings1 the former comprising ,joshua1 ,judges1 ,samuel1 ,kings1 ,isaiah1 ,jeremiah1 ,ezekiel1 and the twelve minor prophets2 the latter comprising the ,psalms1 ,proverbs1 ,job1 the ,song of ,solomon1 ,ruth1 ,lamentations1 ,ecclesiastes1 ,daniel1 ,ezra1 ,nehemiah1 and ,chronicles4 ,it is in this order1 we may note in passing1 that the books of the ,old ,testament are still arranged in our ,hebrew ,bibles4 ,before the completion of the canon of the ,old ,testament the language of the ,jews began to exhibit evidences of change1 and through their intercourse with the various peoples of ,mesopotamia 7or ,aram7 the later books show a distinct tendency towards ,aramaic forms and idioms4 ,this tendency1 already apparent at the time of the return from the ,captivity1 was accelerated by the political events which followed4 ,during the hundred and eighty years and more which intervened between the ,restoration of the ,temple1 ,b4,c4 #eaf1 and the overthrow of ,darius ,codomannus1 ,b4,c4 #cca1 ,juda was a portion of that province of the ,persian empire1 in which the ,aramaic was the prevalent dialect4 ,the ancient ,hebrew gradually ceased to be the language of the ,jews in common life1 and1 before the time of our ,lord1 had been supplanted by the language of their ,eastern neighbours4 ,with the decline of the ,hebrew language there arose amongst the ,jews the class of men known as ,scribes1 whose primary function was that of preparing copies of the ,scriptures1 and of guarding the sacred text from the intrusion of errors4 ,owing to their great zeal for the preservation of the letter of ,scripture1 and to their natural tendency to hold fast to the honour and influence which their special knowledge and skill gave to them1 they did not1 when ,hebrew ceased to be intelligible to the common people1 set themselves to the task of giving them the ,bible in a form which they could understand2 but1 magnifying their office overmuch1 assumed the position of authoritative teachers and expounders of the ,law4 ,scholars might still study for themselves the ancient ,bible1 but for the people at large the form which the ,scriptures now practically assumed was that of the spoken utterances of the ,scribes4 ,how imperfect and unsatisfactory this must have been is obvious2 and the more so as these teachers did not content themselves with simply rendering the ancient text into a familiar form1 but intermingled with it a mass of human traditions that obscured and sometimes contradicted its meaning4 ,it would have been a great gain for the people of ,juda if their regard for the outward form of their ,scriptures had been less extreme and more enlightened1 and if competent men amongst them had ventured so to revise the ancient books that their fellow countrymen might read in their own tongue the wonderful works and words of ,god4 ,this wiser course was adopted in that larger ,juda which lay outside of ,palestine4 ,the ,jews scattered through ,asia ,minor1 ,syria1 and ,egypt1 and other parts of the empire of ,alexander and his successors1 were less rigidly conservative than were the residents of ,juda1 and for their use a translation into ,greek was made in the latter part of the third century before ,christ4 ,this is the version known as the ,septuagint4#a ,it is probable1 both on general grounds and from internal evidence1 that the ,pentateuch was the portion first translated1 and that subsequently1 though after no very long interval of time1 the other portions were translated also4 ,it is quite certain that the whole was in circulation in the middle of the second century before ,christ4 ,various tales respecting the origin of this translation got spread abroad4#b ,these are largely due to the vivid imagination of their authors4 ,they may1 however1 be taken as evidence of the high esteem in which this version was held2 and we shall probably not err in concluding from them that ,alexandria was the city in which it originated4 ,during1 then1 the two centuries that preceded the ,advent1 the ,bible1 as used by the great majority of its readers in various parts of the world1 had assumed an entirely different form from that in which it at first appeared4 ,it was in ,greek1 and not in ,hebrew1 and it included several additional works2 those1 namely1 which are now called collectively the ,apocrypha4 ,the use of this translation amongst the extra-,palestinian ,jews contributed largely to the spread of ,christianity2 and to many amongst the earliest ,christian churches1 and for many generations1 it was still the form under which they studied the books of the ,old ,testament4 ,at the time of our ,lord and ,his ,apostles1 ,greek was the language which most widely prevailed through the ,roman ,empire4 ,it was the ordinary language of intercourse amongst all the peoples that had formerly been subjugated by ,grecian arms1 and was read and spoken by many in ,rome itself4 ,it was in this language1 and not in the sacred language of the ancient ,church1 that the books of the ,new ,testament were written2 and the lesson was thereby emphatically taught us that the ,bible was for man1 and not man for the ,bible2 that the form was subordinate to the substance1 and should be so modified1 as occasions occur1 that it may best minister to the spiritual wants of mankind4 ,as years passed on ,christianity spread into the rural parts of the districts already occupied1 where ,greek was but little known1 and into new regions beyond1 where that language had never prevailed4 ,this called for further changes in the form of ,scripture1 and in the second century of our era both the ,old and ,new ,testaments were translated for the use of the numerous ,christians in ,northern and ,eastern ,syria into that form of ,aramaic which is known as ,syriac4 ,this language--the ,syro-,aramaic--differs by dialectic peculiarities from the ,palestinian ,aramaic4 ,in its earliest forms1 however1 we have probably the nearest representation we can now hope to obtain of the native language of the people amongst whom our ,lord lived and laboured4 ,about the same time also the ,scriptures began to be translated into ,latin for the use of the ,churches of ,north ,africa1 and there is good reason for believing that in the last quarter of the second century the entire ,scriptures in ,latin were largely circulated throughout that region4 ,this was what is termed the ,old ,latin version4 ,it was the ,bible as possessed and used by ,tertullian and ,cyprian1 and subsequently1 in a revised form1 by ,augustine4 ,in the ,old ,testament this version was made1 not from ,hebrew1 but from the ,greek of the ,septuagint1 and so was but the translation of a translation4 ,from ,africa this ,bible passed into ,italy4 ,here a certain rudeness of style1 arising from its provincial origin1 awakened ere long a desire to secure a version that should be at once more accurate and more grateful to ,italian ears4 ,various attempts at a revision of the ,latin were consequently made4 ,one of these1 known as the ,itala1 or the ,italic version1 is highly commended by ,augustine4 ,in the year ,a4,d4 #chc1 ,damasus1 the then ,bishop of ,rome1 troubled by the manifold variations that existed between different copies of the ,latin ,scriptures then in circulation1 used his influence with one of the greatest scholars of the age1 ,eusebius ,hieronymus1 to undertake the laborious and responsible task of a thorough revision of the ,latin text4 ,hieronymus1 or1 as he is commonly termed1 ,jerome1 at once set himself to the task1 and his revised ,new ,testament appeared in ,a4,d4 #che4 ,he also once and again revised the ,old ,latin version of the ,book of ,psalms1 and subsequently the remaining books of the ,old ,testament1 carefully comparing them with the ,greek of the ,septuagint1 from which they had been derived4 ,in ,a4,d4 #chi1 when in his sixtieth year1 he entered upon the further task of a new translation of the books of the ,old ,testament from the original ,hebrew1 and completed it in the year ,a4,d4 #djd4 ,out of the various labours of ,jerome arose the ,bible which is commonly known as the ,vulgate4 ,jerome's translation of the ,old ,testament from the ,hebrew was not made at the instance of any ecclesiastical authority1 and the old prejudice in favour of the ,septuagint led many still to cling to the earlier version4 ,only very gradually did the new translation make its way2 and not until the time of ,gregory the ,great1 at the close of the sixth century1 did it receive the explicit sanction of the head of the ,roman ,church4#c ,in the case of the ,psalter1 the old translation was never superseded4 ,the ,vulgate is thus a composite work4 ,it contains 7#a7 ,jerome's translation from the ,hebrew of all the books of the ,old ,testament1 except the ,psalms2 7#b7 ,jerome's revision of the ,old ,latin version of the ,psalms1 that version being1 as stated above1 made from the ,septuagint2 7#c7 the ,old ,latin version of the ,apocrypha unrevised1 save in the books of ,judith and ,tobit2 7#d7 ,jerome's revised ,new ,testament1 which in the ,gospels was very careful and complete1 and might almost be termed a new translation1 though he himself repudiated any such claim4 ,during many centuries the ,vulgate was the only form in which the ,bible was accessible to the people of ,western ,europe1 and it was the ,bible from which in turn the earliest ,bibles of our own and other countries were immediately derived4 ,it will thus be seen that the history of the ,bible has from the beginning been a history of revision4 ,only so could they who loved the ,bible fulfil the trust committed to them2 only so could the ,bible be a ,bible for mankind4 ,,lecture ,,ii4 ,,the ,,growth ,,of ,,the ,,english ,,bible4 ,the ,english ,bible1 more than any other of the forms in which the ,scriptures have been used by ,christian men1 has been a growth4 ,it is not the production of one man1 or of one epoch4 ,it has come down to us through a long series of transformations1 and it is the result of the continuous endeavours of a succession of earnest labourers to give to their fellow-countrymen a faithful representation of the word of ,god4 ,at what date1 and by whom1 the ,scriptures were first set forth in a form which was intelligible to the people of this country is not known4 ,in the earliest period respecting which we have any clear information1 the ,latin ,vulgate was the ,bible of the clergy and of public worship4 ,some portions only were rendered into the language of the common people4 ,few of them probably were able to read1 and this may explain why it was that the ,psalms were especially selected for translation4 ,they could be more readily committed to memory1 and be more easily wedded to music4 ,but whatever the reason1 the ,psalter is the earliest ,english ,bible of which we have any definite knowledge4 ,it was translated quite early in the eighth century1 both by ,aldhelm1 sometime ,abbot of ,malmesbury1 but at his death1 in ,a4,d4 #gji1d ,bishop of ,sherborne1 and by ,guthlac1#e the hermit of ,croyland1 who died ,a4,d4 #gad4f ,a few years later1 ,a4,d4 #gce1 the ,venerable ,bede translated the gospel of ,john1 dying1 as related in the touching narrative of his disciple ,cuthbert1 in the very act of completing it4 ,in the following century ,king ,alfred greatly encouraged the work of translation1 and it is to this period that we are probably to attribute those ,anglo-,saxon gospels which have come down to us4#g ,towards the close of the tenth century1 or early in the eleventh1 the first seven books of the ,old ,testament were partly translated and partly epitomised by lfric1 ,archbishop of ,canterbury4 ,a verse from each of these two last-mentioned works will show of what sort was the form of these early ,english ,bibles1 and will at the same time illustrate one of the causes which from time to time have rendered the task of revision an imperative duty4 ,the ,anglo-,saxon gospel presents ,matthew v4 #c thus3 8,eadige sind a gastlican earfan1 foram hyra ys heofena rice40 ,and in lfric's ,heptateuch1 ,genesis xliii4 #bi reads3 8a josep geseah his gemeddredan broor beniamin a cwae he1 is is se cnapa e ge me foresaedon and eft he cwae god gemilt sige e sunu min40 ,in the course of time our language gradually changed from the form exhibited in these quotations to that seen in the writings of ,chaucer and ,wycliffe4 ,during the earlier part of this transition period the ,old ,english 7,anglo-,saxon7 ,scriptures continued in use2 but towards the middle part they seem to have become partially unintelligible1 and attempts were consequently made to give the ,scriptures to the people in the new form of language then prevalent1 and which is known as the ,early ,english4 ,it has been asserted that the entire ,scriptures were issued in this form2 but for this there is no satisfactory evidence4 ,we have certain knowledge only of a poetical version of the ,psalms 7the 8,ormulum071 written about the close of the twelfth century2 of a poetical narration of the principal events recorded in ,genesis and ,exodus1 written about the middle of the thirteenth century2 and of two prose verses of the ,psalms1 both belonging to the early part of the fourteenth century1 one by ,william de ,schorham1 vicar of ,chart-,sutton1 in ,kent1 and the other by ,richard ,rolle1 of ,hampole1 near ,doncaster4 ,in the version of the former the first two verses of ,psalm i4 are thus given3 8,blessed be the man that ed nout in the counseil of wicked3 ne stode nout in the waie of sineres1 ne sat nout in fals jugement4 ,ac hijs wylle was in the wylle of oure ,lord2 and he schal thenche in hijs lawe both dae and nyt40 ,the year #achb is the earliest date at which it can with any confidence be affirmed that the entire ,scriptures existed in the ,english language4#h ,during several years previous to this date ,wycliffe and his associates had in various ways been working towards the accomplishment of this result4 ,but it was with some measure of secrecy1 as of men who apprehended danger from the attempt4 ,this renders it difficult to determine with precision the date when the work was completed1 and what was the part which each of the joint labourers had in the common task4 ,it is beyond controversy that the chief place of honour is due to ,john ,wycliffe4 ,his name is so closely and constantly associated with this ,bible by those who refer to it in the times immediately succeeding1 as to put it beyond all doubt that it is to his influence our country is mainly indebted for this unspeakable boon4 ,the translation of the ,new ,testament was probably in whole or in large part the work of ,wycliffe himself4 ,that of the ,old ,testament1 down to the twentieth verse of the third chapter of ,baruch1 is credibly assigned1 upon the authority of a ,,ms4 in the ,bodleian library1 to ,nicholas de ,hereford1 one of the leaders of the ,lollard party in ,oxford4 ,it is probable that this ,bible was somewhat hurriedly completed1 and that either the translators were prevented by circumstances from reviewing their work before issuing it1 or1 with the natural eagerness of men engaged in a first attempt1 they did not allow themselves time for doing so4 ,possibly also they may themselves have regarded it but as a sort of first draft of their work1 and the variations they had found to exist in their copies of the ,vulgate had revealed to them the need of further labour before they could satisfactorily complete the task they had undertaken4 ,wycliffe died in ,december1 #achd2 but either before his death1 or shortly afterward1 a revision of this work was commenced by one of his most intimate friends1 ,john ,purvey1 who1 having resided with ,wycliffe during the latter part of his life1 may be reasonably credited with acting herein under a full knowledge of the wishes and aims of his honoured teacher4 ,the course pursued by ,purvey1 as described by himself in his prologue1#i is interesting and instructive1 setting forth1 as it does1 most distinctly the main lines upon which any work of ,biblical revision must proceed4 ,his first step was to collect old copies of the ,vulgate1 and the works of learned men who had expounded and translated the same2 and then1 by examination and comparison1 to remove as far as he could the errors which in various ways had crept into the ,latin text4 ,his second step was to study afresh the text so revised1 and endeavour to arrive at a correct apprehension of its general meaning4 ,his third was to consult the best authorities within his reach for the explanation of obscure terms1 and of specially difficult passages4 ,his fourth was to translate as clearly as possible1 and then submit the same to the joint correction of competent persons2 or1 to use his own words1 8to translate as clearly as he could to the sentence1 and to have many good fellows1 and cunning1 at the correcting of the translation40 ,by the co-operation of this band of skilful helpers the work was completed about the year #achh1 and copies of it were rapidly multiplied4#aj ,it became1 in fact1 the accepted form of the ,wycliffite version4 ,by a comparison of the two verses of ,psalm i41 given above1 with the forms in which they appeared in the two ,wycliffe ,bibles1 the reader will be able in some degree to estimate the growth of our language1 and will also understand how painstaking and reverent was the care taken by these 8faithful men0 that in this sacred work they might offer of their very best4 ,in the earlier ,wycliffe version the verses read thus3 8,blisful the man that went not awei in the counseil of unpitouse1 and in the wei off sinful stod not1 and in the chaer of pestilence sat not4 ,but in the lawe of the ,lord his wil2 and in the lawe of hym he shal sweteli thenke dai and nyt40 ,in ,purvey's revised version they read3 8,blessid is the man that ede not in the councel of wickid men2 and stood not in the weie of synneris1 and sat not in the chaier of pestilence4 ,but his wille is in the lawe of the ,lord2 and he schal bithenke in the lawe of hym dai and nyt40 ,this ,bible1 so long as it remained in use as the ,bible of ,english people1 existed1 it should be remembered1 only in a manuscript form4#aa ,the chief point1 however1 to be noticed here is1 that with all its excellences1 and unspeakable as was its worth1 it was but the translation of a translation4 ,neither ,wycliffe nor his associates had access to the ,hebrew original of the ,old ,testament2 and although some copies of the ,greek ,new ,testament were then to be found in ,england1 there is no reason to believe that ,purvey or his friends were able to make any use of them4 ,they were1 indeed1 aware that the ,latin of the common text did not always faithfully represent the ,hebrew2 but their knowledge of this fact was second-hand1 gathered chiefly from the commentaries of ,nicholas de ,lyra1 a writer whose works were held in high repute by ,bible students in that age4 ,they did not1 therefore1 venture to correct these places1 but contented themselves with noting in the margin1 8,what the ,ebru hath1 and how it is undurstondun40 ,this1 ,purvey states1 he has done most frequently in the ,psalter1 which 8of alle oure bokis discordith most fro ,ebru40 99 99 99 99 99 ,the third stage in the growth of the ,english ,scriptures is brought before us by the interesting series of printed ,bibles that issued from the printing press in the reign of ,henry ,,viii4 ,after the death of ,wycliffe the efforts of the ,popish party to crush the ,lollards had increased in violence1 and various enactments were passed proscribing the use of the ,bible which bore his name4 ,an act1 passed in the second parliament of ,henry ,v41 went still further1 and declared that all who read the ,scriptures in their native tongue should forfeit land1 cattle1 life1 and goods1 they and their heirs for ever4 ,notwithstanding these repressive measures1 copies of the ,wycliffe ,bible were still made and read in secret4 ,this could be done only with great risk and difficulty1 and none but persons of some wealth could afford the expense of a complete copy4 ,those in humbler positions deemed themselves happy if they could secure a single book1 or even a few leaves4 ,moreover1 through the growing changes of the language1 many passages were becoming very obscure to ordinary readers4 ,during the hundred years which followed after the issuing of the law just referred to1 two important events had happened2 namely1 the invention of printing1#ab and the ,german ,reformation4 ,both of these had a large influence in stimulating the friends of the ,bible to new efforts in revising it for popular use4 ,the leader of this movement in our own country was ,william ,tyndale1 who1 in the year #aebe1 printed on the ,continent1 whither he had been driven by the opposition which beset him at home1 the first edition of his ,new ,testament1 translated from the ,greek4 ,a second and revised edition1 8dylygently corrected and compared with the ,greke10 was printed at ,antwerp1 and published in ,november1 #aecd2 and a third and final edition was published in the early part of #aece1 in the ,may of which year he was arrested and committed to the castle of ,vilvorde1 near ,brussels4 ,of other parts of the ,scriptures ,tyndale was able to publish only the ,pentateuch 7#aecj or #aeca7 and the book of ,jonah 7#aecd74 ,on the sixth day of ,october1 #aecf1 he was led to the stake4 ,he was there strangled and his body burnt4 ,just twelve months before the martyrdom of ,tyndale1 the first printed edition of the entire ,scriptures in the ,english language was issued from the press of ,jacob van ,meteren1 at ,antwerp4 ,the privilege and honour of accomplishing this memorable work belongs to ,miles ,coverdale1 at that time a poor scholar1 dependent upon the patronage of ,thomas ,cromwell and others1 though subsequently1 for a short period in the reign of ,edward ,,vi41 ,bishop of ,exeter4 ,the first edition of his ,bible was 8prynted in the year of our ,lord ,,mdxxxv41 and fynished the fourthe day of ,october40 ,coverdale had been moved to the undertaking by his own deep sense of the needs of his country1 and by the earnest appeals addressed to him by others4 ,through his modesty of disposition1 and his lowly estimate of his own abilities1 he would have declined the task1 but the urgency of his friends prevailed4 ,the expenses also of the preparation and publication of the work were met by the liberality of some of them4 ,in his prologue he says1 8,it was neither my labour nor desire to have this work put in my hand2 nevertheless it grieved me that other nations should be more plenteously provided for with the ,scripture in their mother tongue than we2 therefore1 when ,i was instantly required1 though ,i could not do as well as ,i would1 ,i thought it my duty to do my best1 and that with a good will20#ac and in the dedication to the king1 prefixed to some of the copies1 he says1 8,as the ,holy ,ghost moved other men to do the cost hereof1 so was ,i boldened in ,god to labour in the same40 ,according to the statement on the title-page this was not a translation made from the original texts1#ad but was faithfully and truly translated out of the 8,douche and ,latyn in to ,englishe40 ,in the dedication he states that he had1 8with a clear conscience purely and faithfully translated this out of five sundry interpreters10 and in his prologue he explains further1 that to help him in his work he had used 8sundry translations1 not only in ,latin1 but also of the ,dutch interpreters20 and he is careful1 further1 to explain that he did not 8set forth this special translation0 8as a reprover and despiser of other men's translations10 but 8lowly and faithfully have ,i followed mine interpreters1 and that under correction40 ,the five interpreters to whom ,coverdale thus refers were probably the ,vulgate1 the ,latin version of ,pagninus1 ,luther's translation1 the ,zurich ,bible1 and ,tyndale's ,new ,testament and ,pentateuch4 ,though the volume was dedicated to the king1 and though ,coverdale was backed by powerful patrons1 this ,bible was not published with a royal license4 ,no direct attempt1 however1 was made to suppress it4 ,in the following year 7#aecf7 it was virtually condemned by the members of ,convocation1 who prayed the king that he would 8grant unto his subjects of the laity the reading of the ,bible in the ,english tongue1 and that a new translation of it be made for that end and purpose40 ,but notwithstanding this two new editions of ,coverdale's ,bible were printed in ,london in #aecg1 and on the title-page of both of these there appeared the words1 8,set forth with the kynge's moost gracious licence40 ,in the same year1 #aecg1 and probably in the earlier part of it1 there was issued in ,london another ,bible1 which also bore upon its title-page the inscription1 8,set forth with the kinge's most gracyous lycence40#ae ,this ,bible1 commonly known as ,matthew's ,bible1 was1 it is now generally believed1 prepared for the press by ,john ,rogers1 who suffered martyrdom at ,smithfield1 under the ,marian persecution4 ,in the ,new ,testament and ,pentateuch he agrees substantially with ,tyndale's version4 ,of the other books of the ,old ,testament1 a portion is obviously taken from ,coverdale1 the remaining part1 ,joshua to ,chronicles1 has been thought with good reason to be the work of ,tyndale4 ,it is known that ,tyndale1 after the publication of his ,pentateuch1 continued to labour at the translation of the ,old ,testament4 ,in a letter written during his imprisonment he prays to be allowed to have his ,hebrew ,bible1 and his ,hebrew grammar and dictionary2 and it is by no means unlikely that the results of his studies were committed to the care of ,rogers4 ,if this surmise be correct1 then this ,bible may be viewed as a compilation1 two-thirds of it being due to ,tyndale1 and one-third to ,coverdale4 ,a sufficient reason for the adoption of the assumed name of ,thomas ,matthew is thus supplied1 since ,rogers could not claim the work as his own1 and ,tyndale's name would have arrayed against it the opposition both of the king and of the ,romish party4 ,both of the last mentioned ,bibles were open to certain obvious objections4 ,coverdale's1 in that it was derived from ,german and ,latin versions2 and ,matthew's1 in that it was in part only made from the original texts4 ,matthew's also was accompanied by a considerable number of critical and explanatory notes1 many of which were of a decided anti-papal cast4 ,accordingly1 at the instigation and under the patronage of ,thomas ,cromwell1 ,coverdale set himself to revise his former work with the aid of the valuable contribution supplied to him in ,matthew's ,bible4 ,the printing of this new ,bible was completed in ,april1 #aeci1 and from the circumstance that it was printed in the largest folio then used1 #ae inches by #i1 it was1 and is1 commonly described as the ,great ,bible4 ,in the title-page it is declared to be 8truly translated1 after the veryte of the ,hebrue and ,greke textes by ye dylygent studye of dyuerse excellent learned men1 expert in the forsayde tonges40#af ,by this1 it is now tolerably certain1 we are to understand1 not that several living scholars took part with ,coverdale in the preparation of the volume1 but that he availed himself of the published writings of men skilled in the ancient languages1 who had translated and expounded the ,hebrew and ,greek texts of the ,scriptures4 ,his chief guides were ,sebastian ,munster for the ,old ,testament1 and ,erasmus for the ,new4 ,the ,bible appeared without notes1 and had no dedication4#ag ,in the same year 7#aeci7 there appeared also the ,bible#ah edited by ,richard ,taverner1 formerly of ,cardinal ,college 7now ,christ ,church71 ,oxford1 afterwards of the ,inner ,temple1 and more recently ,clerk of the ,signet to the ,king4#ai ,it may be briefly described as a revised edition of ,matthew's ,bible4 ,taverner had some reputation as a ,greek scholar1 but his work is very unequally executed1 and before the formidable competition of the ,great ,bible it soon sank into obscurity4 ,after its first year of issue this ,bible seems to have been only once reprinted in its entirety2 namely1 in #aedi4bj ,not content with what he had already done1 ,coverdale persevered in the revision and re-revision of his work4 ,a second edition was issued in ,april1 #aedj1 to which was prefixed a prologue by ,cranmer1#ba and its title contained the words1 8,this is the ,byble apoynted to the use of the churches40 ,two other editions appeared in the same year1 and three in the following year4#bb 7,the edition of ,april1 #aedj1 seems1 however1 to have been regarded as a sort of standard edition47 ,this ,bible was the ,bible read in churches in the reign of ,edward ,,vi41 and in the early part of the reign of ,elizabeth4 ,hence it will be seen that of the four principal ,bibles published in the reign of ,henry ,,viii41 namely1 ,tyndale's ,new ,testament and ,pentateuch1 ,coverdale's ,bible1 ,matthew's ,bible1 and the ,great ,bible1 the last three form a group of closely related versions1 of which ,tyndale's is the common parent1 and the rest successively derived therefrom4 ,and it is very noteworthy that these ,bibles are mainly the result of the patient and devoted labours of two men only4 ,the work done by such men as ,rogers and ,taverner1 however important1 is altogether of a subordinate kind4 ,william ,tyndale and ,miles ,coverdale stand apart1 and above all others1 as the men who1 in those days of religious awakening and of conflict with the papal tyranny1 gave the ,bible to our countrymen in a form that could reach at once their understanding and their heart4 ,remembering this1 and remembering also in what difficult circumstances the work was done1 the wonder is far less that room was left for improvement1 and that further revision was felt by themselves and others to be an imperative duty1 than that so much was accomplished1 and so well1 by the indomitable and self-denying labours of these noble men4 ,,lecture ,,iii4 ,,the ,,further ,,growth ,,of ,,the ,,english ,,bible4 ,the accession of ,elizabeth1 ,november #agth1 #aeeh1 conveniently marks the date of a fourth stage in the growth of the ,english ,bible4 ,the former translations and revisions had been done in troublous times1 in the midst of harassing opposition1 and under circumstances which forbade the full use of such aids as the scholarship of the times could furnish4 ,the versions now to be mentioned were carried on in open day1 and with free access to all that was then available for the correction and explanation of the original texts4 99 99 99 99 99 ,amongst the many earnest men driven into exile by the ,marian persecution was ,william ,whittingham1 some time ,fellow of ,all ,souls'1 ,oxford1 and subsequently ,dean of ,durham4#bc ,along with others he found a refuge1 first at ,frankfort1 and afterwards at ,geneva4 ,on the #ajth day of ,june1 #aeeg1 there was published1 in the last mentioned city1 a small volume1 #afmo1 entitled 8,the ,newe ,testament of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,conferred diligently with the ,greke1 and best approved translations4 ,with the arguments aswel before the chapters1 as for every ,boke and ,epistle1 also diversities of readings1 and moste proffitable annotations of all harde places2 whereunto is added a copious ,table40 ,this translation1 there is reason to believe1 was the work of ,whittingham alone4 ,it may be noted1 in passing1 that it was the first ,english ,new ,testament which contained the now familiar division into verses1 and the first also to indicate by italics the words added by the translator in order to convey more fully or more clearly the sense of the original4 ,three years afterwards 7#aefj7 there was published in the same city1 8,the ,bible and ,holy ,scriptures conteyned in the ,olde and ,newe ,testament4 ,translated according to the ,ebrue and ,greeke1 and conferred with the best translations in divers languages4 ,with moste profitable annotations upon all the hard places1 and other things of great importance as may appeare in the epistle to the reader40 ,this is the celebrated ,genevan version1 which for nearly a century onward was the form of ,bible most largely circulated in this country4 ,it differed in several respects from its predecessors4 ,it was a convenient quarto instead of a cumbrous folio4 ,it was printed in ,roman letters instead of the heavy ,gothic or black letters4 ,it marked by a different type all words inserted for the completion of the sense1 and the chapters were divided into verses4 ,but what was of more importance1 it was1 as stated in the title1 compared throughout with the original texts4 ,both in the ,old and ,new ,testaments it largely reproduces the words of ,tyndale4 ,sometimes it gives a preference to the version of ,coverdale2 but often it departs from both in order to give a more exact rendering of the ,hebrew or the ,greek4 ,it seems that several of the ,genevan refugees consecrated their enforced leisure to 8this great and wonderful work10 as they justly term it1 moved thereto by the twofold consideration that1 owing to 8imperfect knowledge of the tongues10 the previous 8translations required greatly to be perused and reformed10 and that 8great opportunities and occasions0 for doing this work were presented to them in the 8so many godly and learned men0 into whose society they had now been brought4 ,the names of ,miles ,coverdale1 ,christopher ,goodman1 ,anthony ,gilby1 ,thomas ,sampson1 ,william ,cole1 and ,william ,whittingham are given as those who1 with some others1 joined in this undertaking4 ,on the accession of ,elizabeth most of the exiles returned home1 conveying with them1 for presentation to the ,queen1 the ,book of ,psalms as a specimen of the work on which they were engaged4#bd ,wittingham only1 with one or two others1 remained behind for a year and a half in order to complete the work4 ,according to the statement given in the address to the reader1 the entire period spent upon the preparation of this version was a little more than two years4 ,it will hence be seen that whatever may have been the part taken in the work by ,coverdale and others1 by far the chief share in it devolved upon ,whittingham and the one or two referred to1 who were probably ,gilby and ,sampson4 ,how weighty was the obligation which in the view of these self-denying men rested upon them to give the word of ,god to their country in the form that would best and most truly present it1 and with what reverent care they laboured to attain unto this1 is shown by the fact that although ,whittingham had so recently published his version of the ,new ,testament1 he is not content with a simple reproduction of this1 but subjects it to a thorough and very careful revision4 ,a comparison of the introduction to ,luke's gospel as it appears in the ,genevan ,bible of #aefj with the same passage in ,whittingham's version of #aeeg will help our readers in some measure to realize the nature and extent of this revision4 ,in the earlier version the passages read thus3 8,for asmuch as many have taken in hand to write the historie of those thynges1 wherof we are fully certified1 even as they declared them unto us1 which from ye begynnyng saw them their selves1 and were ministers at the doyng3 ,it seemed good also to me 7moste noble ,theophilus7 as sone as ,i had learned perfectly all thynges from the beginnyng1 to wryte unto thee therof from poynt to poynt3 ,that thou mightest acknowlage the trueth of those thinges where in thou hast bene broght up40 ,in the version of #aefj the same passage is given thus3 8,for as much as many have taken in hande to set foorth the storie of those thinges whereof we are fully persuaded4 ,as they have delivered them unto us1 which from the beginning saw them theirselves1 and were ministers of the worde1 ,it seemed good also to me 7most noble ,theophilus71 as sone as ,i had searched out perfectly all things from the beginnyng1 to write unto thee thereof from point to point1 ,that thou mightest acknowledge the certaintie of these things1 whereof thou hast bene instructed40 ,it will be seen that in this short passage the changes made from the earlier form of the work are as many as ten in number4 ,as this1 however1 may be deemed a somewhat exceptional passage1 let us take an ordinary chapter in the ,gospels1 presenting no special difficulty1 as for instance ,matt4 xvii4 ,a collation of the two versions will show that in this chapter of twenty-seven verses the revision of #aefj departs from ,whittingham's earlier work in no fewer than forty places4#be ,thus persevering was the endeavour of these faithful men to do their very best1 and with what success may to some extent be seen in the fact that of these forty changes twenty-six were confirmed in after years by the judgment of ,king ,james' translators4 8,so earnestly10 says ,strype#bf in his ,life of ,archbishop ,parker1 8did the people of the nation thirst in those days after the knowledge of the ,scriptures1 that that first impression was soon sold off40 ,so earnestly also did the translators seek to perfect their work1 that about the beginning of ,march1 #aefe1 they had finished a careful review and correction of their translation in preparing for a fresh issue4 ,popular as was the ,genevan ,bible amongst the mass of the ,english people1 the decidedly puritanic cast of its annotations stood in the way of its universal acceptance1 while its manifest superiority as a translation to the ,great ,bible made it almost an impossibility that the latter could be maintained in its place of pre-eminence as the ,bible appointed by authority to be read in churches4 ,steps were accordingly taken by ,matthew ,parker1 ,archbishop of ,canterbury1 to prepare a ,bible1 by the aid of 8diverse learned fellow-bishops10 that would accord with the ecclesiastical sympathies of the party to which he belonged4#bg ,he distributed portions to twelve of his episcopal brethren1 and to other ,church dignitaries2#bh one portion he took under his own charge4 ,the completed work was presented to ,elizabeth within a few weeks of the completion of the tenth year of her reign1 ,october #eth1 #aefh4 ,the rules laid down by ,parker for the guidance of his colleagues were these3 #a4 8,to follow the common ,english translation used in the churches1 and not to recede from it but where it varieth manifestly from the ,hebrew or ,greek original4 #b4 ,to use sections and divisions in the texts as ,pagnine#bi in his translation useth2 and for the verity of the ,hebrew1 to follow the said ,pagnine and ,munster specially1 and generally others learned in the tongues4 #c4 ,to make no bitter notes upon any text1 or yet to set down any determination in places of controversy4 #d4 ,to note such chapters and places as contain matter of genealogies1 or other such places not edifying1 with some strike or note1 that the reader may eschew them in his public reading4 #e4 ,that all such words as sound in the old translation to any offence of lightness or obscenity be expressed with more convenient terms and phrases40 ,from the first of these rules it is clear that the work then undertaken was intended to be a revision of the ,great ,bible4 ,some of the revisers seem to have observed this rule in a most rigid manner1 and have followed the ,great ,bible so closely as to retain its words1 even in places which had been more correctly rendered in the ,genevan4 ,there appears to have been no co-operative action on the part of the several revisers1 and to this cause we may attribute much of the irregularity that attaches to the execution of their work4 ,in many respects they laid themselves open to adverse criticism1 and a paper was sent to ,parker by ,thomas ,lawrence1 ,head ,master of ,shrewsbury ,school1 and an eminent ,greek scholar1 entitled1 ,notes of ,errors in the ,translation of the ,new ,testament out of the ,greek4#cj ,he points out fifteen passages in which the words are not 8aptlye translated10 eight in which 8words and pieces of sentences0 are 8omytted10 two in which superfluous words are inserted1 two in which1 owing to mistranslation1 an 8error in doctrine0 is involved1 and two in which the moods and tenses of verbs are changed4 ,these passages1 except one from the ,colossians1 are all taken from the ,gospels2 and we may hence not unreasonably infer that the writer intended the passages named to be regarded1 not as an exhaustive list1 but as illustrations simply of the kind of defects which called for correction4 ,moved1 as would seem1 by these criticisms1 ,parker set on foot a revision of his former volume2 and in #aegb this ,bible was1 as his biographer expresses it1#ca 8a second time by his means0 8printed with ,corrections and ,amendments and other improvements1 more than the former ,editions40 ,although this ,bible received the sanction of ,convocation1 and every ,archbishop and ,bishop was ordered to have a copy in his hall or dining-room for the use of his servants and of strangers2 and although some editions bear on their title-page the words1 8,set forth by ,aucthoritie0 7meaning thereby the authority of ,convocation71 it never came into anything like general use1 nor did it even establish itself as the ,bible exclusively read in churches4 ,the ,genevan ,bible was still used by many of the clergy in their sermons and in their published works2 and in #aehg1 though nineteen years had then passed since its first publication1 we find ,archbishop ,whitgift complaining that divers parish churches and chapels of ease had either no ,bible at all1 or those only which were not of the translation authorized by the ,synods of ,bishops4 ,between #aefh1 when this ,bible was first published1 and #afjh1 when the last ,new ,testament of this version was issued1 there were sent forth altogether twenty editions of the ,bishops' ,bible and eleven of the ,new ,testament4 ,in the same period there were published seventy-nine editions of the ,genevan ,bible1 and thirty of the ,genevan ,new ,testament4#cb ,besides the ,genevan and the ,bishops'1 another ,bible made its appearance 7so far1 at least1 as the ,new ,testament was concerned7 in the reign of ,elizabeth4 ,in the year #aehb there was printed at ,rheims a translation of the ,new ,testament1#cc made by certain scholars connected with the ,english seminary for the training of ,catholic priests1 formerly established at ,douai1 in ,flanders4 ,the translators1 in their preface1 candidly confess that they did not publish from any conviction 8that the ,holy ,scriptures should alwaies be in our mother tonge10 or that they ought 8to be read indifferently of all10 but because they had compassion to see their 8beloved countrie men with extreme danger of their soules1 to use only such prophane translations20 viz41 as the ,protestant ,bibles previously referred to1 8and erroneous men's mere phantasies1 for the pure and beloved word of truth20 and because1 also1 they were 8moved thereunto by the desires of many devout persons10 and whom they hoped to induce to lay aside the 8impure versions0 they had hitherto been compelled to employ4 ,quite apart from the polemical purpose thus distinctly avowed1 this translation was a retrograde movement4 ,it did not profess to translate the original texts1 but only the 8vulgar ,latin20 and the translators justify their procedure by this plea1 amongst others1 that 8the holy ,council of ,trent 444 hath declared and defined this onely of al other ,latin translations to be authentical1 and so onely to be used and taken in publike lessons1 disputations1 preachings1 and expositions1 and that no man presume upon any pretence to reject or refuse the same40 ,in the accomplishment of their work the ,rhemish translators have very faithfully observed the rule which they laid down for themselves1 to be 8very precise and religious in folowing our copie1 the old vulgar approved ,latin2 not only in sense 444 but sometime in the very wordes also1 and phrases20 that is to say1 they have given a very literal and exact translation of the ,vulgate1 in many parts extremely ,latinized in its diction4 ,a considerable number of words they virtually left untranslated1 boldly venturing to transfer the unfamiliar1 and in many cases unintelligible1 vocables into their ,english text4 ,some of these ,latinized words have obtained a permanent place in our language1 but the larger number have failed to commend themselves4#cd ,such then were the chief forms through which1 at the close of the sixteenth century1 the ,english ,bible had passed4 ,the devout and earnest scholars who from time to time sought to 8open the ,scriptures0 to their fellow-countrymen were for the most part moved by a burning desire to give to ,god of their very best4 ,they grudged no labour to render their work more complete4 ,they allowed no spirit of self-satisfaction to blind them to a perception of defects4 ,they were too humble and too well convinced of the greatness and manifoldness of their work to fancy that they had reached perfection1 but were persevering and self-denying in their endeavours to attain unto it4 ,and they have left behind them for us to follow a noble example of patient continuance in well doing4 ,how in their hands the ,english ,bible has grown1 from the first attempt to set it forth in the language of our country to the form in which we are most familiar with it1 can be fully learnt only by a careful comparison of the successive revisions to which it has been subjected4 ,to aid my readers in forming some approximate idea of it ,i append ,psalm xxiii41 as it appears in the principal ,bibles which have been mentioned in this and the preceding lecture4 #a4 ,,wycliffe',s1 #achb4 787 ,the ,lord gouerneth me1 and no thing to me shal lacke2 in the place of leswe#ce where he me ful sette4 ,ouer watir of fulfilling he nurshide me2 my soule he conuertide4 ,he brote doun me upon the sties of ritwisnesse2 for his name4 ,for whi and if ,i shal go in the myddel of the shadewe of deth2 ,i shal not dreden euelis1 for thou art with me4 ,thi erde and thi staf2 tho han confortid me4 ,thou hast maad redi in thi site a bord2 aen hem that trublyn me4 ,thou hast myche fattid in oile myn hed2 and my chalis makende ful drunken1 hou rit cler it is4 ,and thi mercy shal vnderfolewe me2 alle the dais of my lif4 ,and that ,i dwelle in the hous of the ,lord2 in to the lengthe of dais4 #b4 ,,purvey',s1 #achh4 787 ,the ,lord gouerneth me1 and no thing schal faile to me2 in the place of pasture there he hath set me4 ,he nurschide me on the watir of refreischyng2 he conuertide my soule4 ,he ledde me forth on the pathis of ritfulnesse2 for his name4 ,for whi thou ,y schal go in the myddis of schadewe of deeth2 ,y schal not drede yuels1 for thou art with me4 ,thi erde and thi staf2 tho han coumfortid me4 ,thou hast maad redi a boord in my siyt2 aens hem that troblen me4 ,thou hast maad fat myn heed with oyle2 and my cuppe1 fillinge greetli1 is ful cleer4 ,and thi merci schal sue me2 in alle the daies of my lijf4 ,and that ,y dwelle in the hows of the ,lord2 in to the lengthe of daies4 #c4 ,,coverdale',s1 #aece4 ,the ,lorde is my shepherde1 ,i can want nothinge4 ,he fedeth me in a greene pasture2 and ledeth me to a fresh water4 ,he quickeneth my soule1 and bringeth me forth in the waye of rightuousness for his name's sake4 ,though ,i shulde walke now in the valley of the shadowe of death1 yet ,i feare no euell1 for thou art with me2 thy staffe and thy shepehoke comforte me4 ,thou preparest a table before me agaynst mine enemies2 thou anoyntest my heade with oyle1 and fyllest my cuppe full4 ,oh let thy louying kyndnes and mercy folowe me all the dayes off my life that ,i maye dwell in the house off the ,lord for euer4 #d4 ,,great ,,bible1 #aeci4 ,the ,lorde is my shepherde1 therefore can ,i lacke nothing4 ,he shal fede me in a grene pasture and lead me forth besyde the waters of cforte4 ,he shal conuerte my soule and bring me forth in the pathes of righteousnes for his name's sake4 ,yea1 though ,i walke thorow ye valleye of ye shadow of death1 ,i wyl feare no euell1 for thou art wt me3 thy rod and thy staff confort me4 ,thou shalt prepare a table before me1 agaynst them that trouble me3 thou hast annointed my head wt oyle1 and my cup shal be ful4 ,but 7thy7 louing kyndnes and mercy shal folowe me all the dayes of my lyfe3 and ,i wyll dwel in the house of the ,lord for euer4 #e4 ,,genevan1 #aefj4 #a4 ,the ,lord is my shepheard1 ,i shall not want4 #b4 ,hee maketh mee to rest in greene pasture1 and leadeth me by the still waters4 #c4 ,he restoreth my soule1 and leadeth me in the paths of righteousnesse for his ,names sake4 #d4 ,yea1 though ,i should walke through the valley of the shadow of death1 ,i will feare no euill1 for thou art with me3 thy rodde and thy staffe1 they comfort me4 #e4 ,thou doest prepare a table before me in the sight of mine adversaries3 thou doest anoynt mine head with oyle1 and my cup runneth over4 #f4 ,doubtlesse kindnesse and mercy shall follow mee all the dayes of my life1 and ,i shall remaine a long season in the house of the ,lord4 #f4 ,,bishops1 #aefh4 #a4 ,god is my shephearde1 therefore ,i can lacke nothyng3 he wyll cause me to repose myselfe in pasture full of grasse1 and he wyll leade me vnto calme waters4 #b4 ,he wyll conuerte my soule2 he wyll bring me foorth into the pathes of righteousnesse for his name sake4 #c4 ,yea1 though ,i walke through the valley of the shadowe of death1 ,i wyll feare no euyll2 for thou art with me1 thy rodde and thy staffe be the thynges that do comfort me4 #d4 ,thou wylt prepare a table before me in the presence of myne aduersaries2 thou has annoynted my head with oyle1 and my cup shalbe brymme full4 #e4 ,truely felicitie and mercie shal folowe me all the dayes of my lyfe3 and ,i wyll dwell in the house of ,god for a long tyme4 #g4 ,,douai1 #afaj4 #a4 ,the ,psalme of ,dauid4 #b4 ,our ,lord ruleth one1 and nothing shal be wanting to me3 in place of pasture there he hath placed me4 #c4 ,upon the water of refection he hath brought me vp3 he hath conuerted my soule4 ,he hath conducted me upon the pathes of iustice for his name4 #d4 ,for1 although ,i shal walke in the middes of the shadow of death1 ,i will not feare euils3 because thou art with me1 ,thy rod and thy staffe1 they haue comforted me4 #e4 ,thou hast prepared in my sight a table1 against them2 that truble me4 ,thou hast fatted my head with oyle2 and my chalice inebriating how goodlie is it6 #f4 ,and thy mercie shal folow me al the dayes of my life2 ,and that ,i may dwel in the house of our ,lord1 in longitude of dayes4 ,,lecture ,,iv4 ,,the ,,revision ,,of #afaa--,,the ,,so-,,called ,,authorized ,,version4 ,at the accession of ,james ,i4 the ,,genevan ,,bible and the ,,bishops' ,,bible were1 as we have seen1 the ,bibles in current use1 the latter being the ,bible upheld by ecclesiastical authority1 the former the favourite ,bible of the people at large4 ,the ,book of ,psalms also in the version of the ,great ,bible survived1 as it still does1 in the psalter of the ,prayer ,book1 and probably in some few parish churches old and worn copies of the ,great ,bible still maintained their place4 ,the state of religious parties at that date rendered it almost an impossibility that either of the two first-named versions should become universally accepted4 ,the close connection of the ,genevan ,bible with the ,puritan party1 and the decidedly puritanic cast of some of its notes1 created an insuperable prejudice against it in the minds of the more zealous advocates of ,episcopal authority2 while the inferiority#cf of the ,bishops' ,bible as a version effectually barred its claim to an exclusive use4 ,the need1 then1 for a new version was obvious1 and a desire for it was probably felt by many of all parties4 ,public expression was first given to this desire on the second day of the ,hampton ,court ,conference1 ,january #af1 #afjd1 by ,dr4 ,john ,rainolds1#cg the leading representative of the ,puritans in that assembly4 ,it was not brought forward as one of the matters which he had been deputed to lay before the ,conference2 it seems rather to have been mentioned by him incidentally in connection with certain suggested reforms in the ,prayer ,book4 8,he moved his ,majesty that there might be a new translation of the ,bible1 because those which were allowed in the reign of ,king ,henry ,,viii4 and ,edward ,,vi4 were corrupt1 and not answerable to the ,truth of the ,original10#ch referring in illustration to the renderings given of ,gal4 iv4 #be1ci ,ps4 cv4 #bh1dj and ,ps4 cvi4 #cj4da ,it is somewhat curious that no direct reference was made to the ,bishops' ,bible2 the reason1 probably1 was that this ,bible was not one of those which had been 8allowed0 by royal authority4 ,of the three mistranslations quoted by ,rainolds1 the first only is found in the ,bishops' ,bible2 the other two occur in the ,prayer ,book ,psalter4 ,the suggestion of ,rainolds met with no opposition4 ,the king himself expressed his approval of it1 not1 however1 without an ignorant and disingenuous fling at the ,genevan version2 and 8presently after10 say the translators in their preface1 the king 8gave order for this translation0 to be made4 ,in the course of a few months a scheme for the execution of the work was matured1 and in a letter to ,dr4 ,richard ,bancroft1 then ,bishop of ,london1 the king informed him that he had appointed fifty-four learned men to undertake the translation4 ,he even seems to have contemplated the possibility of securing the co-operation of all the biblical scholars of the country2 and in a letter to ,bancroft1 dated ,july #bb1 #afjd1 directed him 8to move the bishops to inform themselves of all such learned men within their several dioceses as1 having especial skill in the ,hebrew and ,greek tongues1 have taken pains in their private studies of the ,scriptures for the clearing of any obscurities1 either in the ,hebrew or the ,greek1 or touching any difficulties1 or mistakings in the former ,english translation1 which we have now commanded to be thoroughly viewed and amended2 and thereupon to write unto them1 earnestly charging them1 and signifying our pleasure therein1 that they send such their observations to ,mr4 ,lively1 our ,hebrew reader in ,cambridge1 or to ,dr4 ,harding1 our ,hebrew reader in ,oxford1 or to ,dr4 ,andrewes1 ,dean of ,westminster1 to be imparted to the rest of their several companies2 that so our said intended translation may have the help and furtherance of all our principal learned men within this our kingdom40#db ,directions to a similar effect were sent also to the ,vice-,chancellor of ,cambridge1 who was empowered in the king's name to associate with those already appointed any 8fitt men0 he might be acquainted with2 and we may infer that a corresponding communication was sent to ,oxford4 ,to what extent this comprehensive scheme was carried out we have no means of determining4 ,the names of the fifty-four learned men referred to are not given1 and we are consequently left in uncertainty whether those who ultimately engaged in the work#dc were all men included in that list1 or whether other scholars1 chosen by the universities or recommended by the bishops1 formed part of the number4 ,the rules laid down for the guidance of the translators were as follows3 #a4 ,the ordinary ,bible read in the church1 commonly called the ,bishops' ,bible1 to be followed1 and as little altered as the ,truth of the ,original will permit4 #b4 ,the ,names of the ,prophets and the ,holy ,writers1 with the other ,names of the ,text to be retained1 as nigh as may be1 accordingly as they were vulgarly used4 #c4 ,the old ,ecclesiastical ,words to be kept2 viz41 the word ,church not to be translated ,congregation1 c4 #d4 ,when a ,word hath divers significations1 that to be kept which hath been most commonly used by the most of the ,ancient ,fathers1 being agreeable to the ,propriety of the ,place1 and the ,analogy of the ,faith4 #e4 ,the division of the ,chapters to be altered1 either not at all1 or as little as may be1 if necessity so require4 #f4 ,no ,marginal ,notes at all to be affixed1 but only for the explanation of the ,hebrew or ,greek ,words1 which cannot without some circumlocution1 so briefly and fitly be exprest in the ,text4 #g4 ,such ,quotations of ,places to be marginally set down1 as shall serve for the fit reference of one ,scripture to another4 #h4 ,every particular ,man of each ,company1 to take the same ,chapter or ,chapters1 and having translated or amended them severally by himself1 where he thinketh good1 all to meet together1 confer what they have done1 and agree for their parts what shall stand4 #i4 ,as any one ,company hath despatched any one ,book in this manner1 they shall send it to the rest1 to be considered of seriously and judiciously1 for his ,majesty is very careful in this point4 #aj4 ,if any ,company1 upon the review of the ,book so sent1 doubt or differ upon any ,place1 to send them word thereof2 ,note the place1 and withal send the ,reasons2 to which if they consent not1 the difference to be compounded at the ,general ,meeting1 which is to be of the chief ,persons of each ,company at the end of the ,work4 #aa4 ,when any ,place of special obscurity is doubted of1 ,letters to be directed1 by ,authority1 to send to any ,learned ,man in the ,land1 for his judgment of such a ,place4 #ab4 ,letters to be sent from every ,bishop1 to the rest of his ,clergy1 admonishing them of this ,translation in hand2 and to move and charge1 as many as being skilful in the ,tongues2 and having taken pains in that kind1 to send his particular ,observations to the ,company1 either at ,westminster1 ,cambridg1 or ,oxford4 #ac4 ,the ,directors in each ,company to be the ,deans of ,westminster and ,chester for that place2 and the ,king's ,professors in the ,hebrew or ,greek in either ,university4 #ad4 ,these ,translations to be used1 when they agree better with the ,text than the ,bishops' ,bible2 viz41 ,tindall's1 ,matthew's1 ,coverdale's1 ,whitchurch's1#dd ,geneva4 #ae4 ,besides the said ,directors before mentioned1 three or four of the most ,ancient and ,grave ,divines1 in either of the ,universities not employed in ,translating1 to be assigned by the ,vice-,chancellor upon conference with the rest of the ,heads1 to be ,overseers of the ,translations as well ,hebrew as ,greek1 for the better observation of the #dth rule above specified4#de ,besides these rules1 some others of a more definite nature seem to have been adopted by the translators themselves4 ,at the ,synod of ,dort1 held in the years #afah and #afai1 the question of preparing a new ,dutch translation came under consideration1 and for the guidance of its deliberations upon this point the ,english ,delegates#df were requested to give an account of the procedure observed in the translation recently made in ,england4 ,in a matter of such grave importance the ,delegates felt that they ought not to give any off-hand statement1 and accordingly1 after careful consideration1 prepared a written account1 which was presented to the ,synod on its seventh ,session1 ,november #bjth1 #afah4 ,in this account eight rules are given1 the first three of which embody the substance of the first1 sixth1 and seventh of the rules given above4 ,the others direct3 ,that where the ,hebrew or ,greek admits of a twofold rendering1 one is to be given in the text1 and the other noted in the margin2 and in like manner where an important various reading is found in approved authorities4 ,that in the translation of the books of ,tobit and ,judith1 where the text of the old ,latin ,vulgate greatly differs from that of the ,greek1 the latter text should be followed4 ,that all words introduced for the purpose of completing the sense are to be distinguished by a difference of type4 ,that new tables of contents should be prefixed to each book1 and new summaries to each chapter4 ,and lastly1 that a complete list of ,genealogies#dg and a description of the ,holy ,land should be added to the work4#dh ,from various causes1 which cannot now be discovered1 a period of three years elapsed before the revisers commenced their labours4 ,one reason may have been that no provision was made for meeting the necessary costs of the undertaking4 ,with a cheap liberality the king directed ,bancroft to write to the bishops1 asking them1 as benefices became vacant1 to give him the opportunity of bestowing them upon the translators as a reward for their service2 and as to current expenses1 the king1 while professing with much effusiveness his readiness to bear them1 cleverly evaded the responsibility by stating that some of 8my lords1 as things now go1 did hold it inconvenient40#di ,the revision was completed1 as the revisers themselves tell us1 in 8twice seven times seventy-two days and more20 that is to say1 in about two years and three-quarters2 and if to this be added the nine months spent in a final revision and preparation for the press1 we have then only a period of three years and a half4 ,the new ,bible was published in #afaa2 the work1 therefore1 could not have been commenced before #afjg4 ,although the men who engaged in this important undertaking are called 8translators10 their work was essentially that of revision4 ,this is clearly shown both by the rules laid down for their guidance1 and by the statement of the translators themselves1 who say in their preface1 8,truly1 good ,christian reader1 wee never thought from the beginning that wee should need to make a new translation1 nor yet to make of a bad one a good one10 8but to make a good one better1 or out of many good ones1 one principall good one1 not justly to bee excepted against2 that hath beene our indeavour1 that our marke40#ej ,further1 this revision was a more extensive and thorough revision than any which had been heretofore undertaken4 ,in former revisions1 either the work had been done by the solitary labours of one or two1 or when a fair number of competent men were engaged in it no sufficient provision had been made for combined action1 and but few opportunities had been given for mutual conference4 ,in this revision a larger number of scholars were engaged than upon any former1 and the arrangements were such as secured that upon no part of the ,bible should the labour of fewer than seven persons be expended4 ,the revisers were divided into six companies1 two of which met at ,westminster1 two at ,cambridge1 and two at ,oxford4 ,the books of the ,old ,testament1 from ,genesis to #b ,kings inclusive1 were assigned to the first ,westminster company1 consisting of ten members2 from #a ,chronicles to ,song of ,solomon1 to the first ,cambridge company1 consisting of eight members2 and from ,isaiah to ,malachi1 to the first ,oxford company1 consisting of seven members4 ,the ,apocryphal books were assigned to the second ,cambridge company1 which also consisted of seven members4 ,of the books of the ,new ,testament1 the ,gospels1 the ,acts of the ,apostles1 and the ,apocalypse were given to the second ,oxford company1 in which as many as ten members were at different times associated2 the ,epistles were entrusted to the seven scholars forming the second ,westminster company4#ea ,the portions assigned to each company were not again subdivided amongst its members2 but1 in accordance with the eighth rule1 8every particular man of each company0 translated and amended by himself each successive portion1 and the company met from time to time to confer upon what they had done1 and to agree upon what should stand4#eb ,of the mode of procedure followed at the meetings of the several companies1 we have no other information than the brief statement given by ,selden in his ,table ,talk--that 8one read the translation1 the rest holding in their hands some ,bible1 either of the learned tongues1 or ,french1 ,spanish1 ,italian1 c4 ,if they found any fault they spoke2 if not1 he read on40 ,one interesting and touching picture of the translators at work1 which however seems to have escaped the notice#ec of all writers upon the history of the ,english ,bible1 is given us by ,dr4 ,daniel ,featley in his account of the ,life and ,death of ,john ,rainolds1 and which is probably the substance1 if not the very words1 of the oration delivered by him at the funeral of the latter1 when1 on account of the large number of mourners1 8the ,chapell being not capable of the fourth part of the ,funerall troupe10 a desk was set up in the quadrangle of ,corpus ,christi ,college1 and a brief history of ,rainolds' life1 8with the manner of his death10 was thence delivered to the assembled company4 ,dr4 ,rainolds was one of the ,oxford scholars to whom the difficult task was assigned of revising the prophetical books of the ,old ,testament2 and ,featley tells us that 8for his great skill in the originall ,languages10 the other members of the company1 8,doctor ,smith1 afterward ,bishop of ,gloster2 ,doctor ,harding1 ,president of ,magdalens2 ,doctor ,kilbie1 ,rector of ,lincolne ,colledge2 ,dr4 ,bret1 and others1 imployed in that worke by his ,majesty1 had recourse0 to him 8once a weeke1 and in his ,lodgings perfected their ,notes2 and though in the midst of this ,worke1 the gout first tooke him1 and after a consumption1 of which he dyed2 yet in a great part of his sicknesse the meeting held at his ,lodging1 and he lying on his ,pallet1 assisted them1 and in a manner in the very translation of the booke of life1 was translated to a better life40#ed ,rainolds died ,may #bast1 #afjg4 ,in the discharge of their responsible task the translators made use of all the aids accessible to them for the perfecting of their work4 ,not only did they bring to it a large amount of ,hebrew and ,greek scholarship1 and the results of their personal study of the original ,scriptures1 they were careful to avail themselves also of the investigations of others who had laboured in the same field4 ,translations and commentaries in the ,chaldee1 ,hebrew1 ,syriac1 ,greek1 ,latin1 ,spanish1 ,french1 ,italian1 and ,dutch languages were laid under contribution4 8,neither10 they add1 8did we disdaine to revise that which wee had done1 and to bring back to the anvill that which wee had hammered2 but having and using as great helpes as were needfull1 and fearing no reproch for slownesse1 nor coveting praise for expedition1 wee have at length1 through the good hand of the ,lord upon us1 brought the worke to that passe that you see40 ,when the several companies had completed their labours there was needed some general supervision of the work before it finally issued from the press4 ,there is no evidence that the six companies ever met in one body 7though possibly the two companies in each of the three centres may have had some communication with each other72 but having spent almost three years upon the revision1 8at the end whereof10 says the writer of the life of ,john ,bois1#ee 8the whole work being finished1 and three copies of the whole ,bible sent from ,cambridge1 ,oxford1 and ,westminster to ,london1 a new choice was to be made of six in all1 two out of every company1#ef to review the whole work1 and extract one copy out of all these to be committed to the press1 for the dispatch of which business ,mr4 ,downes and ,mr4 ,bois were sent for up to ,london1 where1#eg meeting their four fellow-labourers1 they went daily to ,stationers' ,hall1 and in three-quarters of a year fulfilled their task1 all which time they had from the ,company of ,stationers thirty shillings#eh each per week duly paid them1 though they had nothing before but the self-rewarding1 ingenious industry40#ei 8,last of all ,bilson1 ,bishop of ,winchester1 and ,dr4 ,miles ,smith1 again reviewed the whole work1 and prefixed arguments to the several books40 ,and thus at length1 as ,thomas ,fuller quaintly puts it1 8after long expectation1 and great desire1 the new translation of the ,bible 7most beautifully printed7 by a select and competent number of ,divines appointed for the purpose1 not being too many1 lest one should trouble another1 and yet many1 lest in any things might haply escape them4 ,who1 neither coveting praise for expedition1 nor fearing reproach for slackness 7seeing in a business of moment none deserve blame for convenient slowness71 had expended almost three years in a work1 not only examining the channels by the fountain1 translations with the original1 which was absolutely necessary1 but also comparing channels with channels1 which was abundantly useful40 8,these1 with ,jacob1 rolled away the stone from the mouth of the ,well of ,life1 so that now ,rachel's weak women may freely come1 both to drink themselves1 and to water the flocks of their families at the same40#fj ,,lecture ,v4 ,,revision ,a ,,recurring ,,necessity4 ,on the title-page of the first edition of ,king ,james's ,bible there appeared as now the legend1 8,appointed to be read in ,churches40 ,whence this originated is unknown2 it is even uncertain what meaning is to be attached to the words4 ,some contend#fa that they mean nothing more than that the book contained the directions in accordance with which the ,scriptures were 8appointed0 to be read in public worship1 such as are now given in the ,book of ,common ,prayer4 ,but1 however this may be1 there is no evidence that this ,bible was ever formally sanctioned1 either by the king1 or by ,parliament1 or by ,convocation4 ,the king1 as we have seen1 encouraged the making of the revision1 but that the revision when made was1 by any public act on his part1 invested with any special authority1 is a fancy altogether unsupported by fact4 ,its designation as the ,authorized ,version has been due simply to common parlance2 the claim which that designation seems to assert is absolutely baseless4 ,it was not in virtue of any privileges conferred upon it by those in authority1 but by its intrinsic excellence1 that this version made its way into general use1 and at length supplanted all previous versions4 ,its chief1 if not only1 competitor was the ,genevan4 ,so strong was the attachment of many to the latter that two editions of it1 one a folio and the other a quarto1 were published by the king's printer in the very year in which the new version was issued1 and during at least five years after that date#fb various other editions were issued from the same source4 ,after #afaf the ,genevan ceased to be printed in ,england1 but the demand for it still continuing1 various editions were printed on the ,continent1 and thence introduced into this country4 ,a folio edition1 printed at ,amsterdam1 bears so late a date as #afdd4 ,in #afdi1 in order to win the favour of those who still clung to their old favourite1 an edition of the new version was issued with the ,genevan notes4 ,after this date the revision of #afaa may be said to have gained for itself universal recognition1 and for more than #bcj years it has been the accepted and cherished ,bible of almost all ,english-speaking people4 ,we should1 however1 form a very erroneous opinion both of the spirit and of the learning of ,king ,james's translators1 if we were to suppose that they would have claimed finality for their work4 ,they were too well acquainted with the state of the original texts not to know what need there was for further research after the most ancient and trustworthy authorities4 ,they were too keenly sensitive to the difficulties of translation not to feel that they must often have failed to convey the exact meaning of the words they were attempting to render4 ,they were too conscious of the merits of their predecessors1 and of the extent to which they had profited by their labours1 to hesitate to acknowledge that others might in like manner profit by what they themselves had done4 ,and they were too loyal in their reverence for the ,scriptures1 and too devoutly anxious that every imperfection should be removed from the form in which they were given to their fellow-countrymen1 to offer any discouragement to those who should seek to remove the blemishes that might still remain4 ,they would strongly have deprecated any attempt to find in their labours a plea against further improvement2 and they would have emphatically proclaimed that the best expression of thankfulness for their services1 and of respect for themselves1 was in the imitation of their example1 and in the promotion of further efforts for the perfecting of the book they so profoundly loved4 ,in the case of such a book as the ,bible1 however perfect the translation which may at any time be made1 the duty of revision is one of recurring obligation4 ,the necessity for it is inevitable1 and this from two causes in constant operation4 7#a7 ,by the imperfection that attaches to all kinds of human labour various departures from the standard form became gradually introduced in the process of reproduction2 and 7#b7 by the natural growth of language1 and the attendant changes in the meaning of terms1 that which at one time was a faithful rendering becomes at another obscure or incorrect4 ,no long time elapsed before blemishes arose in the version of #afaa from the first of these causes1 and1 to use the language of the translators themselves1 their translation needed 8to be maturely considered and examined1 that being rubbed and polished it might shine as gold more brightly40 ,the invention of printing1 although it has largely diminished the liability to error in the multiplication of copies1 has not1 as everyone knows who has had occasion to minutely examine printed works1 altogether removed them4 ,various typographical errors soon made their appearance in the printed copies of the ,bible1 and these became repeated and multiplied in successive editions1 until at length no inconsiderable number of variations1 sometimes amounting to several thousands1 could be traced between different copies4 ,most of these it is true were unimportant variations1 but some of them were of a more serious nature4 ,the following instances will serve to illustrate this4 ,the dates attached are the dates of the editions in which the errors may be found3 ,exod4 xx4 #ad4 8,thou shalt commit adultery10 for 8,thou shalt not40 #afca1 ,lond41 #hvo4#fc ,numb4 xxv4 #ah4 8,they vex you with their wives10 for 8their wiles40 #afch1 ,lond41 #abmo4 ,numb4 xxvi4 #aj4 8,the fire devoured two thousand and fifty men10 for 8two hundred and fifty40 #afch1 ,lond41 #abmo4 ,deut4 xxiv4 #c4 8,if the latter husband ate her10 for 8hate her40 #afhb1 ,lond4 #b ,sam4 xxiii4 #bj4 8,he slew two lions like men10 for 8two lion-like men40 #afch1 ,lond41 #abmo4 ,job xxix4 #c4 8,by his light ,i shined through darkness10 for 8,i walked through40 #afac1 ,lond4 ,isaiah xxix4 #ac4 8,their fear toward me is taught by the people of men10 for 8by the precept of men40 #afch1 ,lond41 #abmo4 ,jer4 iv4 #ag4 8,because she hath been religious against me10 for 8hath been rebellious40 #afcg1 ,edin41 #hvo4 ,jer4 xviii4 #ba4 8,deliver up their children to the swine10 for 8to the famine40 #afhb1 ,lond4 ,ezek4 xxiii4 #g4 8,with all their idols she delighted herself10 for 8she defiled herself40 #afac1 ,lond4 ,matt4 xxvi4 #cf4 8,then cometh ,judas with them unto a place called ,gethsemane10 for 8,then cometh ,jesus40 #afaa1 ,lond4 ,acts vi4 #c4 8,look ye out among you seven men of honest report 444 whom ye may appoint10 for 8whom we may appoint40 #afch1 ,camb4 fo4#fd #a ,cor4 v4 #a4 8,and such fornication as is not so much as not among the ,gentiles10 for 8not so much as named40 #afbi1 ,lond41 fo4#fe #a ,cor4 vi4 #i4 8,know ye not that the unrighteous shall inherit the kingdom of ,god80 for 8shall not inherit40 #afec1 ,lond41 #cbmo4 #b ,tim4 iv4 #af4 8,i pray ,god that it may be laid to their charge10 for 8may not be laid40 #afac1 ,lond4 ,titus i4 #ad4 8,now giving heed to ,jewish fables10 for 8not giving heed40 #afcf ,edin41 #hvo4 ,james v4 #d4 8,the ,lord of ,sabbath10 for 8,sabaoth40 #afdj1 ,lond41 #hvo4 #a ,john i4 #d4 8,that our joy may be full10 for 8that your joy40 #agfi1 ,oxf4 ,these facts will serve to show how soon some kind of revision became needful1 and that a true reverence for ,scripture is shown1 not by opposition to revision1 but by a desire1 and even demand1 that it should be undertaken4 ,this necessity became all the more imperative in the case of the revision of #afaa1 because there existed no standard copy to which appeal could in all cases be made as evidence of the conclusions reached by the translators4 ,it is a curious and remarkable fact1 that two editions1 differing in several respects1 were issued by the king's printer1 ,robert ,barker1 in #afaa1 and competent judges are not agreed as to which of these two priority in time belongs4 ,nor even if this point were satisfactorily settled1 would it suffice to reproduce that one of the two texts which might be proved to be the earlier4 ,for excellent as was the main work done by the translators1 the final revision and the oversight of the sheets as they passed through the press were not so thorough as was to be desired4 ,in the most carefully prepared edition of this revision that has ever been issued1 viz41 the ,cambridge ,paragraph ,bible1 edited by ,dr4 ,scrivener1 the learned and laborious editor has seen it right to depart from the printed text of #afaa in more than nine hundred places4#ff ,it will be manifest that such corrections1 whenever called for1 ought not to be made in any haphazard way1 and that it is in the interest of all that careful revisions of the printed texts should from time to time be made1 and that they should be made by men thoroughly competent for the task4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the second cause to which reference has been made is1 of course1 much slower in its operation1 but though slow it is certain2 and sooner or later every version1 whensoever and by whomsoever made1 must call for revision1 because of the changes to which all language is subject4 ,words which were once in common use pass altogether out of currency1 and are utterly unintelligible save to a learned few4 ,other words change their meaning1 and give to the sentences in which they occur a different and sometimes an alien sense to that which they formerly conveyed4 ,others again1 while retaining fundamentally their original sense1 become limited in their range of application1 and when used in other connections than those to which they are thus confined by custom1 become grotesque and disturb the mind of the reader by the strange associations which they suggest4 ,how many words found in our ,bibles have1 since #afaa1 passed out of general use the following list will show4 ,most of these are wholly without meaning1 even to an educated reader2 a few survive as local provincialisms1 and a few also are still employed in the technical vocabulary of certain arts or professions4 ,all are out of place in a book intended for universal use4 ,assay4 ,deut4 iv4 #cd2 ,job iv4 #b2 ,acts ix4 #bf1 c4 ,attent4 #b ,chron4 vi4 #dj4 ,bestead4 ,isa4 viii4 #ba4 ,blain4 ,exod4 ix4 #i1 #aj4 ,bolled4 ,exod4 ix4 #ca4 ,brickle4 ,wisd4 xv4 #ac4 ,brigandine4 ,jer4 xlvi4 #d2 li4 #c4 ,bruit4 ,jer4 x4 #bb2 ,nah4 iii4 #ai4 ,calamus4 ,exod4 xxx4 #bc2 ,cant4 iv4 #ad2 ,exek4 xxvii4 #ai4 ,camphire4 ,cant4 i4 #ad2 iv4 #ac4 ,causey4 #a ,chron4 xxvi4 #ah4 ,chanel-bone4 ,job xxxi4 #bb1 marg4 ,chapiter4 ,exod4 xxxvi4 #ch1 c4 ,chapman4 #b ,chron4 ix4 #ad4 ,chaws4 ,ezek4 xxix4 #d4 ,cithern4 #a ,macc4 iv4 #ed4 ,cockatrice4 ,isa4 xi4 #h1 c4 ,collops4 ,job xv4 #bg4 ,confection4 ,exod4 xxx4 #ce4 ,coney4 ,lev4 xi4 #e1 c4 ,to ,convent4 ,jer4 xlix4 #ai1 marg4 ,cotes4 #b ,chron4 xxxii4 #bh4 ,to ,couch4 ,dent1 xxxiii4 #ac4 ,countervail4 ,esth4 vii4 #d4 ,daysman4 ,job ix4 #cc4 ,dehort4 #a ,macc4 ix4 #i4 ,delicates4 ,jer4 li4 #cd4 ,dredge4 ,job xxiv4 #f1 marg4 ,dure4 ,matt4 xiii4 #ba4 ,earing4 ,gen4 xlv4 #f4 ,endirons4 ,ezek4 xl4 #dc1 marg4 ,flue-net4 ,hab4 i4 #ae1 marg4 ,gier eagle4 ,lev4 xi4 #ah4 ,gorget4 #a ,sam4 xvii4 #f1 marg4 ,habergeon4 ,exod4 xxviii4 #cb2 xxxix4 #bc1 c4 ,helve4 ,deut4 xix4 #e4 ,hough4 ,josh4 xi4 #f1 #i4 ,implead4 ,acts xix4 #ch4 ,jewry4 ,dan4 v4 #ac2 ,john vii4 #a4 ,knop4 ,exod4 xxv4 #ca1 c4 ,leasing4 ,ps4 iv4 #b2 v4 #f4 ,makebate4 #b ,tim4 iii4 #c1 marg4 ,muffler4 ,isa4 iii4 #ai4 ,neesing4 ,job xli4 #ah4 ,ossifrage4 ,lev4 xi4 #ac4 ,ouches4 ,exod4 xxviii4 #aa1 c4 ,pilled4 ,gen4 xxx4 #cg4 ,prelation4 #a ,cor4 xiii41 heading4 ,purtenance4 ,exod4 xii4 #i4 ,ravin4 ,gen4 xlix4 #bg4 ,rereward4 ,num4 x4 #be1 c4 ,scall4 ,lev4 xiii4 #cj4 ,scrabble4 #a ,sam4 xxi4 #ac4 ,a ,settle4 ,ezek4 xliii4 #ad1 c4 ,silverling4 ,isa4 vii4 #bc4 ,sith4 ,ezek4 xxxv4 #f4 ,tabering4 ,nah4 ii4 #g4 ,tache4 ,exod4 xxvi4 #f4 ,throughaired4 ,jer4 xxii4 #ad1 marg4 ,thrum4 ,isa4 xxxviii4 #ab1 marg4 ,viol4 ,isa4 v4 #ab4 ,wimple4 ,isa4 iii4 #bb4 ,a still larger number of words or phrases1 though still finding a place in our current speech1 have wholly or partially changed their meanings4 ,amongst these are the following3 ,all to brake4 ,judges ix4 #e4 ,base4 #a ,cor4 i4 #bh2 #b ,cor4 x4 #a4 ,botch4 ,exod4 ix4 #i4 ,bought of a sling4 #a ,sam4 xxv4 #bi1 marg4 ,bravery4 ,isa4 iii4 #ah4 ,bray4 ,prov4 xxvii4 #bg4 ,by and by4 ,matt4 xiii4 #ba2 ,luke xxi4 #i4 ,captivate4 #b ,chron4 xxviii42 ,jer4 xxxix41 headings4 ,careful4 ,dan4 iii4 #af2 ,phil4 iv4 #f4 ,carriage4 ,judges xviii4 #ba2 ,acts xxi4 #ae4 ,cast about4 ,jer4 xli4 #ad4 ,chafed4 #b ,sam4 xvii4 #h4 ,champaign4 ,deut4 xi4 #cj4 ,charger4 ,matt4 xiv4 #h2 ,mark vi4 #be4 ,charity4 #a ,cor4 xiii4 #a1 c4 ,churl4 ,isa4 xxxii4 #e1 #g4 ,cieling4 #a ,kings vi4 #ae4 ,clouted4 ,josh4 ix4 #e4 ,cockle4 ,job xxxi4 #dj4 ,comfort4 ,job ix4 #bg4 ,confectionary4 #a ,sam4 viii4 #ac4 ,contain4 #a ,cor4 vii4 #i4 ,conversation4 ,gal4 i4 #ah2 ,phil4 iii4 #bj2 ,heb4 xiii4 #e4 ,convince4 ,jno4 viii4 #dh2 ,jas4 ii4 #i4 ,cunning4 ,ps4 cxxxvii4 #e4 ,curious4 ,exod4 xxviii4 #h2 xxix4 #e4 ,damnation4 #a ,cor4 xi4 #bi4 ,delicately4 ,lam4 iv4 #e2 ,luke vii4 #be4 ,discover4 ,ps4 xxix4 #i2 ,mic4 i4 #f2 ,hab4 iii4 #ac4 ,doctrine4 ,mark iv4 #b4 ,duke4 ,gen4 xxxvi4 #ae4 ,ensign4 ,num4 ii4 #b2 ,isa4 v4 #bf4 ,fast4 ,ruth ii4 #h1 #ba4 ,fetch a compass4 ,acts xxviii4 #ac4 ,flood4 ,josh4 xxiv4 #b1 #c1 c4 ,footman4 ,jer4 xii4 #e4 ,fret4 ,lev4 xiii4 #ee4 ,grudge4 ,ps4 lix4 #ae4 ,hale4 ,luke xii4 #eh2 ,acts viii4 #c4 ,harness4 #a ,kings xx4 #aa2 xxii4 #cd4 ,indite4 ,ps4 xlv4 #a4 ,jangling4 #a ,tim4 i4 #f4 ,kerchief4 ,ezek4 xiii4 #ah1 #ba4 ,lace4 ,exod4 xxviii4 #bh4 ,latchet4 ,isa4 v4 #bg2 ,mark i4 #g4 ,let4 ,exod4 v4 #bd2 ,isa4 xliii4 #ac2 ,rom4 i4 #ac2 #b ,thess4 ii4 #g4 ,lewd4 ,acts xvii4 #e4 ,lewdness4 ,acts xviii4 #ad4 ,man-of-,war4 ,exod4 xv4 #c1 c4 ,maul4 ,prov4 xxv4 #ah4 ,minister4 ,josh4 i4 #a2 #a ,kings x4 #e2 ,luke iv4 #bj4 ,napkin4 ,luke xix4 #bj2 ,john xi4 #dd2 xx4 #g4 ,naughtiness4 #a ,sam4 xvii4 #bh2 ,prov4 xi4 #f2 ,james i4 #ba4 ,naughty4 ,prov4 vi4 #ab4 ,nephew4 ,judges xii4 #ad2 #a ,tim4 v4 #d4 ,observe4 ,mark vi4 #bj4 ,occupy4 ,exod4 xxxviii4 #bd2 ,judg4 xvi4 #aa2 ,ezek4 xxvii4 #i2 ,luke xix4 #ac4 ,painfulness4 #b ,cor4 xi4 #bg4 ,palestine4 ,exod4 xv4 #ad2 ,isa4 xiv4 #bi4 ,pap4 ,luke xi4 #bg2 ,rev4 i4 #ac4 ,parcel4 ,gen4 xxxix4 #ai2 ,josh4 xxiv4 #cb2 ,ruth iv4 #c2 ,john iv4 #e4 ,peep4 ,isa4 viii4 #ai2 x4 #ad4 ,poll4 ,num4 i4 #b1 c4 ,pommel4 #b ,chron4 ix4 #ab4 ,port4 ,neh4 ii4 #ac4 ,prefer4 ,esth4 ii4 #i2 ,dan4 vi4 #c2 ,john i4 #be4 ,presently4 ,matt4 xxvi4 #ec2 ,phil4 ii4 #bc4 ,prevent4 ,ps4 lix4 #aj2 cxix4 #adg2 #a ,thess4 iv4 #ae4 ,proper4 ,acts i4 #ai2 #a ,cor4 vii4 #g2 ,heb4 xi4 #cb4 ,prophesy4 #a ,cor4 xi4 #e2 xiv4 #c1 #d4 ,publican4 ,matt4 v4 #df1 c4 ,purchase4 #a ,tim4 iii4 #ac4 ,ranges4 ,lev4 xi4 #ce4 ,refrain4 ,prov4 x4 #ai4 ,riot4 ,titus i4 #f2 #a ,peter iv4 #d2 #b ,peter ii4 #ac4 ,rioting4 ,rom4 xiii4 #ac4 ,riotous4 ,prov4 xxiii4 #bj2 ,luke xv4 #ac4 ,road4 #a ,sam4 xxvii4 #aj4 ,scrip4 #a ,sam4 xvii4 #dj2 ,matt4 x4 #aj1 c4 ,secure4 ,judges viii4 #aa2 xviii4 #g1 #aj2 ,job xi4 #ah2 xii4 #f2 ,matt4 xxviii4 #ad4 ,set to4 ,john iii4 #cb4 ,shroud4 ,ezek4 xxxi4 #c4 ,sod4 ,gen4 xxv4 #bi4 ,sottish4 ,jer4 iv4 #bb4 ,table4 ,hab4 ii4 #b2 ,luke i4 #fc2 #b ,cor4 iii4 #c4 ,target4 #a ,sam4 xvii4 #f2 #a ,kings x4 #af4 ,tire4 ,isa4 iii4 #ah2 ,ezek4 xxiv4 #ag1 #bc4 ,tired4 #b ,kings ix4 #cj4 ,turtle4 ,cant4 ii4 #ab4 ,vagabond4 ,gen4 iv4 #ab2 ,ps4 cix4 #aj2 ,acts xix4 #ac4 ,venison4 ,gen4 xxv4 #bh4 ,wealth4 #b ,chron4 i4 #ab2 ,ps4 cxii4 #c2 #a ,cor4 x4 #bd4 ,witty4 ,prov4 viii4 #bb4 ,if1 in reading these passages1 we attach to the words here mentioned the meaning that they ordinarily bear1 the resulting sense will in each case be very different from that intended to be conveyed by the translators4 ,in some of the passages the sense thus given will be so manifestly inappropriate that the reader is necessarily driven to seek for some explanation2 but in others of them no such feeling may be awakened1 and the reader is undesignedly betrayed into error4 ,through no fault of the translators1 but by the inevitable law of change in language1 the words which once served as stepping-stones1 by whose aid the reader could rise to a clearer perception of the truth of ,god1 have become stumbling-blocks in his path1 and cause him to wander from the way4 ,respect1 therefore1 for the translators1 as well as loyalty to the ,scripture1 constrain the demand that these rough places be made plain4 ,,lecture ,,vi4 ,,on ,,the ,,imperfect ,,renderings ,,introduced ,,or ,,retained ,,in ,,the ,,revision ,,of #afaa4 ,the two reasons for further revision which were illustrated in the last lecture are1 as will have been seen1 of universal application1 and must sooner or later apply to every version of the ,scriptures1 however perfect that version may have been when it was first made4 ,but whatever the skill with which ,king ,james's translators fulfilled their labours 7and it is universally acknowledged to be worthy of the highest praise71 it would be a vain fancy to imagine that theirs was a perfect work4 ,they themselves would never have claimed such an honour for it1 and already in their own day some of their renderings were called in question by competent men4 ,even if they had never failed in applying the means at their command for the interpretation of the ,hebrew and ,greek originals1 they knew that the knowledge then possessed of these ancient tongues was far from complete1 and that by further study and advancing research it would be possible to attain to a more accurate and extensive acquaintance with them4 ,the progress made in the knowledge of ,greek and ,hebrew during the last two centuries has1 in fact1 been such as the revisers of #afaa could have little anticipated4 ,a long list might easily be drawn up of eminent scholars who have given themselves to the investigation of the grammar of the two sacred languages1 and of others who have laboured in illustrating the meaning of their terms4 ,in the case of ,hebrew1 large additions to our knowledge1 both of its grammar and its vocabulary1 have been won from a source almost entirely unexplored in former times2 namely1 the study of ,arabic and other cognate languages2 and in the case both of ,hebrew and ,greek1 much has been gained by the labours of those who have given themselves to the investigation of the general principles of language1 and to the study of the relations which different languages sustain to each other4 ,the knowledge of ,hebrew and ,greek thus attained has been from time to time applied by a still larger number of eminent men to the elucidation of the several books of the ,bible1 and an immense amount of valuable material for their interpretation has thus been stored up4 ,the meaning of obscure and difficult passages has been elaborately and independently discussed by men of different nationalities1 and of different types of theological opinion1 and in this way the sense of many passages formerly misunderstood has been satisfactorily determined4 ,and such being the case1 it is clearly the incumbent duty of all who truly reverence the ,scriptures to desire that these imperfections and obscurities shall be removed1 and the more so that some of these erroneous renderings have been used by the opponents of the ,bible as their weapons of attack4 ,that the reader may be able to form some definite judgment upon the matter here presented to him1 his attention is called to the following selection of passages from different parts of the ,bible1 in which it will now be generally acknowledged by competent judges that the translators of #afaa have failed to give a faithful representation of the meaning of the original texts3 ,gen4 iv4 #ae is rendered1 in the version of #afaa1 as in previous versions3 8,and the ,lord set a mark upon ,cain1 lest any finding him should kill him10 and no small amount of ingenuity has been wasted in the endeavour to decide what this supposed mark upon the body of ,cain might be4 ,the rendering moreover altogether misrepresented the import of the passage4 ,the 8mark0 or 8sign0 was not something intended for the warning of others1 but was given to remove the fears of ,cain himself1 expressed in verses #ac1 #ad3 8,the ,lord set a sign for ,cain to assure him that whoever found him would not kill him40 ,gen4 xx4 #af4 ,here ,abimelech is made to say to ,sarah1 8,behold1 ,i have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver2 behold1 he is to thee a covering of the eyes1 with all that are with thee1 and with all other2 thus she was reproved10 a statement which is both misleading and obscure4 ,it was not ,abraham1 but the present of money1 that was to be for ,sarah a covering of the eyes1 that is1 a testimony to her virtue1 and by this act of the king she was not reproved for her conduct1 but was cleared in her character4 ,the latter part should be rendered1 8,behold1 it shall be to thee a covering of the eyes 444 and thus she was righted40 ,exod4 xvi4 #ae4 8,and when the children of ,israel saw it1 they said one to another1 ,it is manna1 for they wist not what it was40 ,to the ordinary reader this seems to involve a contradiction2 but the stumbling-block is at once removed by the more faithful rendering1 8,they said one to another1 ,what is it8 for they wist not what it was40 ,further on1 in verse #ca1 it is stated that from this cry1 8,what is it80 the bread from heaven thus given to them was called ,manna1 or more correctly ,man 7the ,hebrew word for ,what874 ,josh4 vi4 #d4 8,and seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns40 ,this is a very unfortunate rendering2 for not only are rams' horns solid1 and so also unsuitable for wind instruments1 but also it is only by the merest fancy that any reference to rams can be brought in at all4 ,the word rendered 8rams0 is 8jubilee10 the same as that given to the great ,year of ,release4 ,it denotes either some kind of trumpet1 and is so used ,exod4 xix4 #ac1 or the sound or signal given by a trumpet4 ,the ,year of ,release derives its name1 the ,year of ,jubilee1 from the solemn sounding of trumpets throughout the land with which it was inaugurated4 ,the original term should here be kept1 and the verse should read1 8,and seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of jubilee40#fg ,judges v4 #g4 8,the inhabitants of the villages ceased1 they ceased in ,israel1 until that ,i ,deborah arose1 that ,i arose a mother in ,israel40 ,here the translators first of all misunderstood the word which they have rendered 8villages10 and were then driven to introduce the words 8the inhabitants of10 for which1 as the italics show1 there was nothing in the ,hebrew4 ,the picture really drawn in the verse is not that of the depopulation of the country1 but of the defenceless and disorganized condition of the people through the absence of judges or rulers4 ,the ,septuagint gives the true sense3 8,the rulers ceased1 they ceased in ,israel40#fh ,judges xv4 #ai4 8,but ,god clave an hollow place that was in the jaw1 and there came water thereout40 ,a strange misrepresentation of the meaning of the original4 ,the hollow place was not in the jaw-bone with which ,sampson had slain the ,philistines1 but in some cliff in the neighbourhood1 and which derived its name1 ,ramath-lehi1 or more briefly ,lehi1 from this memorable exploit4 ,the words should be rendered1 8,but ,god clave the hollow place which is in ,lehi40 #a ,sam4 ix4 #bj4 8,and as for thine asses that were lost three days ago1 set not thy mind on them1 for they are found4 ,and on whom is all the desire of ,israel8 ,is it not on thee and on all thy father's house80 ,a needless difficulty is here created by suggesting that already the hearts of the people had been set upon ,saul for their future king1 whereas his future elevation to that office was as yet known to ,samuel only4 ,this is removed by the right rendering3 8,whose are all the desirable things of ,israel8 ,are they not for thee1 and for thy father's house40#fi #b ,sam4 v4 #f4 8,except thou take away the blind and the lame thou shalt not come in hither20 a statement to which the reader finds it difficult to attach any appropriate sense4 ,the verse is correctly rendered by ,coverdale1 who reads1 8,thou shalt not come hither1 but the blynde and lame shall dryve thee awaie40 #b ,sam4 xiv4 #ad4 8,for we must needs die1 and are as water spilt on the ground1 which cannot be gathered up again2 neither doth ,god respect any person3 yet doth he devise means1 that his banished be not expelled from him40 ,the statement that ,god doth not respect any person1 however true in itself1 has here no relation to the context4 ,the natural meaning of the original words is very different1 8,god doth not take away life10 that is1 as shown by what immediately follows1 does not at once and without mercy inflict punishment as soon as guilt is incurred1 but 8deviseth means10 c4 #b ,kings viii4 #ac4 8,and ,hazael said1 ,but what1 is thy servant a dog1 that he should do this great thing80 ,thus read1 the words imply that ,hazael shrank indignantly from the actions described in the preceding verse2 whereas the sense of the passage is that he viewed himself as too insignificant a person to do what he clearly regarded as a great exploit4 8,but what is thy servant1 the or this dog1 that he should do this great thing80 #a ,chron4 xvi4 #g4 8,then on that day ,david delivered first this psalm to thank the ,lord into the hand of ,asaph and his brethren40 ,this conveys the impression that the psalm which follows is the first psalm that ,david published1 whereas the statement is that on this memorable day--the day on which ,david brought up the ark from the house of ,obed-edom--he formally appointed ,asaph and his brethren to the office of superintending the service of praise4 7,compare verse #cg47 8,then on that day ,david first gave the praising of the ,lord into the hand of ,asaph and his brethren40#gj ,job iv4 #f4 8,is not this thy fear1 thy confidence1 thy hope1 and the uprightness of thy ways80 ,by the insertion of 8this10 a wrong complexion is given to the passage4 ,eliphaz1 in reference to ,job's fainting under his sufferings1 calls attention to the confidence he had formerly professed on the ground of his fear of ,god and of the uprightness of his conduct2 and so indirectly suggests that ,job's piety and uprightness had been unreal4 8,is not thy fear i4e4 thy fear of ,god1 thy piety thy confidence2 and thy hope1 is it not even the integrity of thy ways80 ,job xix4 #bf4 8,and though after my skin worms destroy this body1 yet in my flesh shall ,i see ,god40 ,as the italics show1 the original contains nothing corresponding to the words 8though10 8worms10 and 8body40 ,their insertion does not indeed change radically the meaning of the verse1 but they weaken its force1 and in a measure alter its imagery4 ,the picture presented by the original is a very vivid one4 ,the patriarch1 pointing to his body wasting away under disease1 says1 8,after my skin is destroyed thus1 yet from my flesh shall ,i see ,god40 ,job xxiv4 #af4 8,in the dark they dig through houses1 which they had marked for themselves in the daytime2 they know not the light40 ,here the meaning of the second clause has been altogether missed1 and the whole passage is thereby greatly obscured4 ,the writer is describing the deeds of those who rebel against the light and love the darkness3 as with the murderer 7v4 #ad7 and the adulterer 7v4 #ae71 so is it with the robber4 8,in the dark they dig through houses2 in the daytime they shut themselves up2 they know not the light40 ,job xxxi4 #ce4 8,oh that one would hear me6 behold1 my desire is1 that the ,almighty would answer me1 and that mine adversary had written a book40 ,job1 having asserted his innocence1 expresses his strong desire that the charges against him might be brought for decision before the divine tribunal4 ,he1 on his part1 is quite prepared for the trial2 there1 he says1 is his statement1 signed and sealed2 let the adversary in like manner present his indictment2 he would then be sure of a triumphant issue4 8,oh that ,i had one who would hear me6 ,behold my mark6 ,may the ,almighty answer me1 and that ,i had the accusation that my adversary had written4 ,surely1 ,i would carry it on my shoulder1 ,i would bind it as chaplets upon me40 ,ps4 xvi4 #b1 #c4 8,thou art my ,lord2 my goodness extendeth not to thee4 ,but to the saints that are in the earth1 and to the excellent1 in whom is all my delight40 ,every reader of this psalm must have felt how obscure1 if not unintelligible1 are these words4 ,a more faithful rendering gives a clear and appropriate sense1 8,thou art my ,lord1 ,i have no good above thee4 ,as for the saints on the earth1 and the excellent1 in them is all my delight40#ga ,ps4 xlii4 #d4 8,when ,i remember these things1 ,i pour out my soul in me1 for ,i had gone with the multitude4 ,i went with them to the house of ,god40 ,the words of the ,psalmist are not1 as this rendering makes them to be1 a mere statement of what happens whenever he remembers the sorrows of the past1 and the mockery of his adversaries4 ,they are a declaration of his purpose to remember1 with lively emotion and gratitude1 the privileges and mercies with which he had been blessed4 8,i will remember these things i4e4 the things he is about to mention1 and ,i will pour out my soul within me1 how ,i passed along with the multitude1 how ,i went with them or how ,i led them to the house of ,god40 ,ps4 xlix4 #e4 8,wherefore should ,i fear in the days of evil1 when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about80 ,this1 though seemingly an exact rendering of the ,hebrew1 wholly misleads the ,english reader4 ,the phrase1 8iniquity of my heels10 can only suggest to him the iniquity which the man himself has committed1 a sense which is altogether unsuited to the passage4 ,the ,psalmist would never say that his own personal transgressions were not to him a ground of fear4 ,the word1 which in ,hebrew means 8heel10 is that also which1 by a slight modification1 forms the name of the patriarch ,jacob1 the 8,heeler10 or supplanter of his brother4 ,in the opinion of many scholars1 the simple form here used admits of the same meaning1 and they render1 8when the iniquity of my supplanters or the iniquity of those who plot against me compasseth me about40 ,whatever be the true explanation of the ,hebrew phrase1 it is quite certain that it is the iniquity of others1 and not of the speaker1 which is referred to4 ,some change1 therefore1 in the rendering is clearly called for4 ,ps4 xci4 #i1 #aj4 8,because thou hast made the ,lord1 which is my refuge1 even the ,most ,high1 thy habitation2 there shall no evil befall thee10 c4 ,the earlier ,english translations1 the ,bishops'1 the ,genevan1 the ,great ,bible1 and ,wycliffe's1 have all kept nearer to the original than this4 ,the most ancient version of all1 the ,septuagint1 renders it correctly4 ,the psalm is one of those which are intended to be sung by two singers1 or two companies of singers1 responding one to the other1 and hence arises the frequent change of person that occurs in it4 ,in the first clause of this verse we have one of the singers chanting1 8,for thou1 ,o ,lord1 art my refuge40 ,in the second clause we have the response of the other singer1 8,thou hast made the ,most ,high thy habitation2 there shall no evil befall thee10 c41 down to end of verse #ac4 ,eccl4 iv4 #ad4 8,for out of prison he cometh to reign2 whereas1 also1 he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor40 ,the meaning attached by the ,revisers of #afaa to the second clause seems to be1 that the old and foolish king referred to in the previous verse1 who was 8born in his kingdom10 that is1 who succeeded to the kingly power by inheritance1 becomes1 through his obstinacy1 a poor man4 ,this sense can only be got from the words by much straining1 and has led to the introduction of the word 8becometh10 which represents nothing in the original4#gb ,the correct rendering gives a plain and suitable sense3 8,for from the house of prisoners he goeth forth to reign1 although in his kingdom namely1 the kingdom over which he now rules he was born poor40 ,isa4 lxiii4 #ai4 8,we are thine3 thou never barest rule over them2 they were not called by thy name40 ,the sense of this passage is entirely changed by the introduction of the word 8thine40 ,the verse is the penitential acknowledgment of the depressed condition into which the nation had fallen in consequence of its sins4 ,they are no longer as the chosen inheritance 7v4 #ag71 they are as an alien people4 ,the ,genevan translators give the true sense of the passage1 8,we have been better1 ,we are become as they over whom thou never barest rule1 and upon whom thy name was not called40 ,jer4 iv4 #a1 #b4 8,if thou wilt return1 ,o ,israel1 saith the ,lord1 return unto me3 and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight1 then shalt thou not remove4 ,and thou shalt swear1 ,the ,lord liveth1 in truth1 in judgment1 and in righteousness2 and the nations shall bless themselves in him1 and in him shall they glory40 ,this as it stands is hopelessly obscure4 ,the passage is an emphatic announcement of the blessings that would come to the nations from the penitent return of ,israel to its faithful allegiance4 ,if ,israel will return1 will put away all its abominations1 and no longer swearing by idols1 as if they were the highest objects of reverence1 should make in truth and uprightness their appeals to ,jehovah1 then the nations would share in the blessedness of the kingdom4 8,if thou wilt return1 ,o ,israel1 saith the ,lord1 wilt return unto me1 and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight1 and wilt not go astray1 and wilt swear1 #8,the ,lord liveth' in truth1 in judgment1 and in righteousness1 then the nations shall bless themselves in him10 c4 ,ezek4 x4 #ad4 8,and every one had four faces3 the first face was the face of a cherub1 and the second face was the face of a man1 and the third the face of a lion1 and the fourth the face of an eagle40 ,this conveys a wrong impression4 ,the prophet is describing1 not as he is here represented1 the four faces of all the cherubim1 but one face only of each4 ,the ,bishops' ,bible gives the true sense by rendering1 8,every one of them had four faces1 so that the face of the first was the face of a cherub1 and the face of the second was the face of a man1 and of the third the face of a lion1 and of the fourth the face of an eagle40 ,ezek4 xxii4 #ae1 #af4 8,and ,i will scatter thee among the heathen1 and disperse thee in the countries1 and will consume thy filthiness out of thee4 ,and thou shalt take thine inheritance in thyself in the sight of the heathen1 and thou shalt know that ,i am the ,lord40 ,the dark phrase1 8thou shalt take thine inheritance in thyself10 is commonly explained to mean1 that whereas aforetime they were ,god's inheritance1 they shall now be left to find their inheritance by themselves4 ,a more lucid and more suitable meaning is given to the words by the rendering adopted by most modern commentators1 8thou shalt be profaned through thyself in the sight of the nations40 ,dan4 iii4 #be4 8,lo1 ,i see four men loose1 walking in the midst of the fire1 and they have no hurt2 and the form of the fourth is like the ,son of ,god40 ,it is clearly misleading to attribute to ,nebuchadnezzar any such exalted conception as that which we attach to the phrase1 8the ,son of ,god10 and so to render the clause misrepresents the original4 ,the correct translation is 8one like to a son of the gods40 ,a similar error occurs in vii4 #ac1 where 8one like the ,son of man10 should be 8one like a son of man40 ,hos4 vi4 #c4 8,then shall we know1 if we follow on to know the ,lord20 thus making the prophet to declare that the attainment of knowledge is dependent upon our perseverance in the search after it4 ,this is an important truth1 but is not the meaning of the verse1 which is simply an emphatic exhortation to know ,god and to persevere in knowing ,him4 8,yea1 let us know1 let us follow on to know1 the ,lord40 ,hosea xiii4 #ad4 8,o death1 ,i will be thy plagues2 ,o grave1 ,i will be thy destruction40 ,though there is some difference of opinion respecting the right rendering of the earlier part of this verse1 all are agreed that these should be rendered as they are quoted in #a ,cor4 xv4 #ee1 8,where are thy plagues1 ,o death8 ,where is thy destruction1 ,o grave80 ,matt4 vi4 #af4 ,the rendering 8they disfigure their faces1 that they may appear unto men to fast10 misleads the reader by conveying the impression that the ,pharisees were endeavouring to obtain credit under false pretences--were seeming to fast when not doing so in reality2 whereas the conduct condemned is that of parading1 and calling public attention to1 their religious observances4 8,they disfigure their faces1 that they may be seen of men that they are fasting40#gc ,so also in verse #ah4 ,matt4 xi4 #b4 8,now when ,john had heard in the prison the works of ,christ1 he sent two of his disciples40 ,here the true force of the passage is missed4 8,christ10 as used by us1 is a proper name1 designating the person1 and not simply the office of our ,lord4 ,it was not because ,john had heard of certain works done by ,jesus of ,nazareth that he sent his disciples to ,him1 but because he recognized in the accounts which were brought to him deeds characteristic of the ,christ1 the promised ,messiah4 8,when ,john heard in the prison the works of the ,christ40 ,matt4 xv4 #c4 8,why do ye also transgress the commandment of ,god by your tradition80 ,the commandment of ,god might indeed be transgressed by compliance with the traditions of men1 but this is not the meaning of our ,lord's words4 ,the ,pharisees had asked why the disciples did not observe the traditions of the elders respecting washing4 ,our ,lord justifies them by calling attention to the wrong doing of those who so exalted these outward observations1 in themselves mere matters of indifference1 as on their account to make void the commandments of ,god4 8,why do ye also transgress the commandment of ,god for the sake of your tradition80#gd ,mark vi4 #bj4 8,for ,herod feared ,john1 knowing that he was a just man and an holy1 and observed him40 ,this erroneous rendering has come down through ,tyndale1 the ,great ,bible1 and the ,genevan1 the last of these1 however1 giving it in the less obscure form1 8and did him reverence40 ,the passage is rightly given by ,wycliffe1 8and kept him20 i4e4 kept him in safety4 ,luke i4 #ei4 8,and they called him ,zacharias40 ,the form employed in the ,greek expresses that the action here spoken of was attempted only1 not completed1 8they would have called him ,zacharias40 ,luke xxi4 #ai4 8,in your patience possess ye your souls10 a translation which altogether misses the meaning4 ,the clause is not an exhortation to the maintenance of a calm composure in trouble1 but is an exhortation to the acquirement of a higher and nobler life through the brave endurance of suffering4 8,in your patience win ye your lives40 ,in the better texts this is given in the form of an assurance3 8,in your patience ye shall win your lives40 ,luke xxiii4 #ae4 8,no1 nor yet ,herod3 for ,i sent you to him2 and lo1 nothing worthy of death is done unto him40 ,words unto which an intelligible sense can be put only by straining them to mean that nothing had been done to our ,lord to show that in the judgment of ,herod ,he was worthy of death4 ,all obscurity is removed by the more faithful rendering1 8nothing worthy of death hath been done by him40 ,john iv4 #bg4 8,and upon this came his disciples1 and marvelled that he talked with the woman40 ,the surprise of the disciples was not occasioned by the fact that our ,lord was conversing with this particular woman2 they were surprised that ,he should talk with any woman4 ,the correct rendering is1 as given by the ,rheims1 8and they marueiled that he talked with a woman40 ,john v4 #ce4 8,he was a burning and a shining light40 ,though this1 by frequent quotation1 has passed into a sort of proverbial phrase1 it is a most unfortunate rendering1 and gives an entirely wrong impression of the meaning of the passage4 ,as thus read it sets forth the pre-eminence of ,john1 whereas its true import is to emphasize the subordinate nature of his office and work4 ,christ1 as stated in the first chapter of this ,gospel1 was 8the ,light40 ,in comparison with ,him1 ,john was only a lamp which1 in order that it may give light1 must first be kindled from some other source4 8,he was the lamp which is kindled and so shineth40 ,john xv4 #c4 8,now ye are clean through the word which ,i have spoken unto you10 thus representing the word to be the instrument through which the cleansing was wrought4 ,but though this be true1 it is not the truth here set forth4 ,it was not 8through10 but 8on account of0 the word1 i4e4 because of its virtue and its cleansing power1 that they were clean4 ,here1 again1 ,wycliffe is free from the error into which all the later translators 7except the ,rheims7 have fallen4 ,he renders1 8,now ye ben clene for the word that ,i haue spokun to you40 ,acts ii4 #bc4 8,ye have taken1 and by wicked hands have crucified and slain40 ,the ordinary reader naturally takes the 8wicked hands0 to be the hands of the ,jews1 whereas the reference is to the ,romans1 through whose agency the ,jews brought about the crucifixion of ,christ1 8and by the hands of lawless men1 ye crucified and slew40 ,wycliffe1 ,tyndale1 ,coverdale1 the ,genevan1 the ,bishops1 and the ,rheims1 all render this clause correctly4 ,acts xi4 #ag4 8,forasmuch then as ,god gave them the like gift as he did unto us1 who believed on the ,lord ,jesus ,christ40 ,this is incorrect1 and suggests a false contrast between 8us0 and 8them10 as if the latter were not believers4 ,faith in ,christ is the ground upon which1 in the case of both parties1 the gifts referred to were received4 ,the verse is thus given by ,tyndale3 8,for as moche then as ,god gave them lyke gyftes1 as he dyd unto vs when we beleved on the ,lorde ,iesus ,christ40 ,acts xxvi4 #bc4 8,that ,christ should suffer1 and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead1 and should show light unto the people1 and to the ,gentiles40 ,this both needlessly suggests a difficulty to many readers1 and altogether conceals one main point of the passage2 namely1 that the resurrection of ,christ was the great source from which illumination would come both to ,jews and to ,gentiles1 8and that ,he first by ,his resurrection from the dead should proclaim light to the people and to the ,gentiles40 ,rom4 ix4 #c4 8,for ,i could wish that myself were accursed from ,christ for my brethren1 my kinsmen according to the flesh40 ,such a wish it is impossible that the ,apostle could have entertained4 ,his words are the expression of his strong affection for his fellow-countrymen4 8,i could have wished10 c42 i4e4 if such a wish had been right or possible4 ,rom4 xiii4 #aa4 8,and that1 knowing the time1 that now it is high time to awake out of sleep3 for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed40 ,this is ambiguous ,english1 and though a very careful reader might gather the true sense from this rendering1 it is very liable to be taken as if meaning that our salvation is nearer than we anticipated2 nor is the ambiguity removed by the ,genevan1 which reads1 8nearer than when we believed it40 ,the reference is to the time of their first exercise of faith in ,christ1 8nearer than when we first believed40 #a ,cor4 i4 #ba4 8,for after that in the wisdom of ,god the world by wisdom knew not ,god1 it pleased ,god by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe40 ,this rendering has been a fertile source of error1 as if preaching was in itself1 or as viewed by the ,corinthians1 an inappropriate means for the diffusion of the ,gospel1 a thought altogether at variance with the tone of the context1 and with the facts of history4 ,the ,greeks were1 of all the peoples of antiquity1 the least disposed to think lightly of oratory1 and the whole tenor of the passage shows that their tendency was to overrate1 not underrate1 the power of speech4 ,what was foolishness to them was not the act of preaching1 but the doctrine preached--salvation through a crucified ,christ4 ,the ,rheims here clearly enough gives the true sense1 8it pleased ,god by the folishnes of the preaching to saue them that beleeue40 #a ,cor4 ix4 #e4 8,have we not power to lead about a sister1 a wife1 as well as other apostles80 ,this mode of speech implies that some only of the other apostles were married4 ,what the ,greek states is that all or most of them were4 ,here again the ,rheims correctly renders1 8as also the rest of the ,apostles40 #b ,cor4 v4 #ad4 8,because we thus judge1 that if one died for all1 then were all dead10 thus seeming to imply that the death of ,christ upon the cross is a proof that all men were in a state of spiritual death2 whereas the conclusion which the ,apostle draws from the death of ,christ is1 that all who truly believe in ,him die to their old fleshly sinful life1 8because we thus judge1 that if one died for all1 then all died40 ,eph4 iii #aj4 8,to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of ,god40 ,it would only be after much careful consideration that the reader of these words would discover that they cannot mean that the manifold wisdom of ,god is to be known by the ,church4 ,what the ,apostle really states is1 that it was in the ,divine purpose that through the ,church the manifold wisdom of ,god was to be made known to the angelic powers4 ,of all the ancient versions the ,rheims1 though here1 as usual1 disfigured by its offensive ,latinisms1 most clearly expresses the sense of the verse2 its rendering is1 8that the manifold wisdom of ,god may be notified to the ,princes and ,potentates in the celestials by the ,church40 ,phil4 iv4 #c4 8,and ,i intreat thee also1 true yokefellow1 help those women which laboured with me in the gospel40 ,this leaves it quite uncertain who are the women referred to1 whereas in the original it is plain that they are the two women previously referred to1 ,euodia1 and ,syntyche2 and the reason why it is urged that assistance should be given to them1 is that they had bravely shared with ,paul in the toil and conflict of the ,christian service4 8,help them1 for they have laboured with me in the gospel40 #a ,tim4 iv4 #ae4 8,meditate upon these things40 ,this wholly fails to express the apostle's meaning4 ,his exhortation goes beyond the region of thought2 it passes into the sphere of active life1 and he urges ,timothy to give himself to the diligent practice of the several departments of labour previously referred to4 ,of the old translators1 ,tyndale gives it correctly1 8,these thynges exercyse40 #a ,tim4 vi4 #b4 8,and they that have believing masters1 let them not despise them1 because they are brethren2 but rather do them service1 because they are faithful and beloved1 partakers of the benefit40 ,the last clause of this passage has1 in all probability1 grievously puzzled many a reader2 but with the fuller knowledge of the ,greek syntax now possessed1 all obscurity passes away4 ,no scholar would now hesitate in rendering1 8do them service because they who partake of the benefit are faithful and beloved40#ge #a ,tim4 vi4 #e4 8,supposing that gain is godliness40 ,here again an unnecessary difficulty is introduced2 for it is hard to see how any sane person could consider 8gain0 to be 8godliness40 ,on the other hand1 it is unhappily no uncommon experience to meet with persons who treat religion as a means of worldly advantage1 and it is to such the ,apostle refers4 ,the correct rendering is1 8supposing that godliness is gain40#gf ,heb4 iv4 #b4 8,for unto us was the gospel preached as well as unto them10 a rendering which at once raises the objection that 8the ,gospel10 in the sense which ordinary readers attach to the term1 was not preached to the ,israelites in the wilderness2 nor does any reference to 8the ,gospel0 occur in the immediate context1 but simply to the promise of entering into a rest4 ,the plain sense of the passage is1 8unto us were good tidings preached as well as unto them40 ,heb4 viii4 #e4 8,who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things40 ,the introduction of the preposition 8unto0 almost entirely obliterates the meaning of the clause2 namely1 that the ,mosaic priesthood were the ministers1 not of the true sanctuary1 but of that which is only its copy and shadow4 ,the ,rheims correctly renders1 8that serve the examplar and shadow of heavenly things40 ,heb4 xiii4 #g1 #h4 8,whose faith follow1 considering the end of their conversation3 ,jesus ,christ the same yesterday1 and to-day1 and for ever40 ,here there is a double error2 first1 the connection of the last clause with the preceding1 as if it were intended to affirm that ,christ was the end of the conversation of their faithful pastors2 and secondly1 the wrong sense thus given to the word 8end10 which here denotes the 8outcome0 or issue4 ,the ,hebrew ,christians are urged to imitate the faith of their pastors1 considering the blessed issue of their ,christian cause4 ,then follows1 as an independent statement1 the assertion of the unchangeableness of ,christ1 which1 though not altogether disconnected in thought with what precedes1 stands in still closer connection with what follows3 8,considering the issue of their way of life1 imitate their faith4 ,jesus ,christ is the same yesterday1 and to-day1 and for ever40 ,such are some of the passages from which it may be said1 that through the emphatic unanimity of ,biblical scholars all obscurity and doubt have been removed4 ,their true meaning may now be affirmed with a confidence that closely borders upon moral certainty4 ,through numerous commentaries and other expository works1 these results of scholarship are made widely known1 and they whose duty it is to expound these passages to others are constrained to point out the imperfection that attaches to the renderings given in the ,english ,bible now ordinarily used4 ,it is obviously a most undesirable thing that the teacher or preacher should be placed under such a necessity4 ,it is not at all times easy so to discharge the duty as that he shall give no offence even to educated hearers2 while the simple-minded and unlearned are painfully perplexed2 and1 unprepared as they are to estimate the limits of possible error1 seem to themselves to be launched upon a boundless sea of uncertainty4 ,revision1 therefore1 becomes imperative1 both for the sake of removing acknowledged blemishes1 and also for reassuring the anxious that they are trusting to a faithful guide1 and for showing to them how little1 comparatively1 there is in their beloved ,book that needs to be changed4 ,,lecture ,,vii4 ,,on ,,the ,,original ,,texts1 ,,as ,,known ,,in #afaa1 ,,and ,,as ,,now ,,known4 ,another1 and distinct1 class of reasons for the further revision of the ,english ,bible1 arises from the more abundant material now possessed for the determination of the original text of ,scripture than was within the reach of the ,revisers of #afaa4 ,even if these honoured men had perfectly fulfilled their work1 and had never erred in their interpretation of the sacred books1 the result of their labours would still be open to correction because of the less perfect form of the texts which they set themselves to translate4 ,the exact words used by the inspired writers are1 as was stated in the first lecture1 not now to be found in any one book or manuscript4 ,they have to be gathered from varied sources1 by long and careful labour1 demanding much skill and learning4 ,these sources1 moreover1 are so numerous that the investigation of them can be accomplished only by a large division of labour1 no one life being long enough for the task1 and no one scholar having knowledge enough to complete it alone4 ,nevertheless1 it is well that our sources are thus extensive4 ,had one copy only of the books of the ,old and ,new ,testament come down to us1 then1 indeed1 we should have been freed from the necessity of this manifold and laborious research1 but unless this were the original copy itself1 we should have had no means whereby to detect and to remove the errors which had crept in from the human imperfections of the transcribers4 ,and though none of these errata might in any serious degree have affected the great truths which the ,bible conveys to us1 or have diminished our estimate of its surpassing worth1 they would have been as blots upon its pages which our love and reverence for it would long to see removed4 ,the greater the number and variety of our resources1 the greater is our ability1 by the examination and comparison of their differences1 to remove these blemishes2 and the greater also is the confidence we are able to feel in the absolute correctness of those far more numerous and extensive passages in which our authorities agree4 ,and hence1 though the toil imposed upon us is so largely multiplied thereby1 we cannot but rejoice in the number and extent of our authorities1 and we gather therefrom a fresh illustration of the saying1 that 8in all labour there is profit40 ,the sources1 whence our knowledge of the original texts is chiefly derived1 are three in number3 7#a7 ,manuscripts containing one or more of the books of ,scripture2 7#b7 ,ancient ,versions of the ,bible2 and 7#c7 ,quotations of ,scriptural passages found in the works of early ,christian writers4 99 99 99 99 99 ,respecting our ,manuscript ,authorities1 the first fact claiming emphatic notice is1 that while in the case of the classic poets1 philosophers and historians1 the extant manuscript copies are numbered by tens and sometimes even by units1 those of the ,scriptures are numbered by hundreds4 ,of the ,new ,testament alone nearly eighteen hundred manuscripts have been catalogued and more or less carefully examined4 ,of these #fhe are manuscripts of the ,gospels1 #bdh contain the ,acts and ,catholic ,epistles1 #bih the ,pauline ,epistles1 and #aaj the ,apocalypse2 #dbh are ,lectionaries or service books of the ,greek church1 #cdg of which contain passages from the ,gospels and #ha passages from the ,acts and the ,epistles4 ,thus while our knowledge of the interesting narratives of ,herodotus is dependent upon five or six authorities only1 and the history of ,livy upon eight or nine only 7and none of these contain the whole even of the portions extant71#gg our knowledge of the life and words of our ,lord is drawn from over a thousand manuscript authorities1 and of which the larger part contain the whole of the four ,gospels4 ,in antiquity again the manuscripts of the ,new ,testament far surpass those of classical authors4 ,few1 if any1 of the latter are older than the ninth or tenth century1 while of the former we have copies belonging to the fourth and fifth centuries4 ,the oldest manuscripts are written in capital letters1 and on this account are called uncial#gh manuscripts1 or briefly uncials4 ,later manuscripts are written in a smaller character1 and in a style approaching to what we call a running hand1 and are hence named cursives4 ,of uncial manuscripts1 containing portions of the ,new ,testament1 one hundred and fifty-eight have been examined and catalogued4 ,some of the most valuable of these have been published under the superintendence of careful editors4 ,others have been thoroughly examined1 and their variations so faithfully noted and recorded1 that a private student is1 for most practical purposes1 placed in the same position as the possessor of the manuscript itself4 ,this work is technically described as collation1 and the amount of painstaking labour spent upon the collation of ,biblical manuscripts during the past two hundred years1 and especially in the last forty or fifty years1 is simply enormous4 ,to one who has never examined a document written many centuries ago it is difficult to convey any adequate notion of the amount of time and labour involved in the collation even of a single manuscript4 ,the unusual and varying forms of the letters1 the indistinctness of the characters1 the various contractions employed by the scribe1 and1 as is the case with our most ancient documents1 the non-separation of word from word1 and the absence of stops1 render the mere task of deciphering the manuscript very difficult and painfully wearying to the eyes4#gi ,much watchful attention is also demanded1 as well as a good knowledge of the language1 in making the proper separation of the words1 and in judging aright of any peculiarities of spelling that may attach to the writer4 ,in making the collation of any ,biblical manuscript--say of the ,new ,testament--the course generally pursued is as follows3 ,the collator procures a printed copy of the ,greek text1 commonly of some well-known edition1 and in the margin of this he marks all the variations of the manuscripts from the printed text before him1 whether of omission1 addition1 or otherwise1 including even variations in spelling4 ,he also marks carefully where each line and page of the manuscript begins and ends1 what corrections or alterations have been made in it1 whether these were made by the original writer or by a later hand2 and where several handwritings may be detected1 he specifies and distinguishes these4 ,all this is done with so much minuteness that it would be possible for the collator to reproduce the original manuscript in every respect save in the shape of the letters and the appearance of the parchment or paper4 ,of the uncial manuscripts of the ,new ,testament1 the most ancient and important are the ,,sinaitic1#hj written in the fourth century1 and now deposited in the ,imperial ,library of ,st4 ,petersburg2 the ,,vatican1#ha also of the fourth century1 and preserved in the ,vatican ,library at ,rome2 the ,,alexandrine1#hb of the fifth century1 now in the ,british ,museum2 the ,,ephraem ,,codex1#hc of the fifth century1 in the ,national ,library at ,paris2 ,,beza',s ,,codex1#hd of the sixth century1 in the ,university ,library1 ,cambridge2 and the ,,claromontane1#he also of the sixth century1 which formerly belonged to ,beza1 but is now in the ,national ,library at ,paris4 ,as will be seen presently1 only two of these most ancient manuscripts were available for the preparation of the text from which the translators of #afaa made their revision4 ,the ,alexandrine was not brought to light until #afbh1 when it was presented to ,charles ,i4 by ,cyril ,lucar1 patriarch of ,constantinople4 ,although the ,ephraem ,codex was brought to ,europe in the early part of the sixteenth century1 it was not known to contain a portion of the ,new ,testament until towards the close of the seventeenth century1 and was not collated until the year #agaf4 ,the ,sinaitic was discovered by ,dr4 ,tischendorf1 in the ,convent of ,st4 ,catherine on ,mount ,sinai1 so recently as ,february #dth1 #ahei4 ,and the ,vatican1 though deposited in the ,library at ,rome in the fifteenth century1 was1 during a long time1 so jealously guarded by the ,roman authorities1 that little use could be made of it4 ,now1 however1 all these six important manuscripts have been edited and published1 some in the ordinary style of printing1 and some in quasi fac-simile4 ,at the present time1 by the application of the processes of photography1 an exact copy of the ,alexandrine is in course of preparation1 and the ,new ,testament portion has been successfully completed4 ,in these and other ways1 by the laborious efforts of many ,english and ,continental scholars1 an immense amount of material for the determination of the sacred text has been gathered together and safely garnered2 and knowledge which aforetime could be attained only by slow and wearisome effort1 by many long journeys to distant places1 and by much personal search amongst the books and papers stored away in national and other libraries1 can now be attained with comparative ease by the solitary student in his study4 ,at the time when ,king ,james's translators entered upon their work a small fraction only of this mass of material was available1 and even that fraction was but imperfectly used4 ,the means were not then possessed for correctly judging of the relative value of the several documents1 nor had experience given the skill to discriminate wisely between varying testimony4 ,the translators of #afaa have left on record no statement respecting the ,greek text from which they translated1 but as far as can be gathered from internal evidence they contented themselves with accepting the forms of it which they found ready at hand4 ,of these the two then held in highest repute were those connected with the names of ,theodore ,beza and ,robert ,stephen4 ,these1 in their turn1 were based upon the two primary editions of the printed text1 the ,complutensian and ,erasmus's1 editions which were made quite independently of each other4 ,the ,complutensian was the first printed1 though not the first published4#hf ,it formed the fifth volume of the splendid ,polyglot prepared under the munificent patronage of ,cardinal ,ximenes1 at ,alcala1 in ,spain1 from the ,latin name of which city 7,complutum7 it derives its designation1 and was completed ,january #ajth1 #aead4 ,it is not now known from what manuscripts the text of this edition was derived1 but it may be confidently affirmed that none of our most ancient authorities were used4 ,they were probably not many in number1 and were all what in this connection is termed modern2 that is to say1 not earlier than the tenth century4 ,the first published edition of the ,greek ,new ,testament was that edited by the celebrated ,erasmus1 and sent forth from the press of ,froben1 in ,basle1 ,february #bdth1 #aeaf4 ,this was derived from six manuscripts1 five of which are now in the public library of ,basle1 and one#hg in the library of the ,prince of ,oettingen-,wallerstein4 ,of these one1 and the most valuable1 contained the whole of the ,new ,testament except the ,apocalypse1 but of this ,erasmus made but little use4 ,of the rest1 one contained the ,gospels only1 two the ,acts and the ,epistles only1 one the ,epistles of ,paul only1 and one the ,apocalypse only4 ,it will thus be seen that in the ,gospels the text given by ,erasmus rested almost entirely upon the authority of a single manuscript2 in the ,acts and ,catholic ,epistles upon that of two only2 in the ,epistles of ,paul upon three2 and in the ,apocalypse upon one only1 and that an imperfect one4 ,the last six verses were wanting1 and these ,erasmus supplied by translating them into ,greek from the ,latin of the ,vulgate4 ,the work too was hastily done4 ,the proposal to undertake it was made to ,erasmus ,april #agth1 #aeae1 so that less than ten months were given to the preparation of the volume1 and this1 too1 at a time when ,erasmus was busied with other engagements2 an unseemly haste that we may probably ascribe to the publishers' eager desire to get the start of the ,complutensian4 ,revised editions were published in #aeai and #aebb1 in the preparation of which the aid of a few additional manuscripts was obtained4 ,these1 again1 were further revised by the aid of the ,complutensian1 which then became available1 in an edition which ,erasmus published in #aebg4 ,the next stage in the history of the printed text of the ,greek ,new ,testament is marked by the publication at ,paris1 in #aeej1 of the handsome folio of the celebrated and learned printer1 ,robert ,stephen4#hh ,he tells us in his preface that in the preparation of this edition he made use of the ,complutensian and of fifteen manuscripts4 ,two of these were ancient1 one that is now known as ,beza's ,codex1 which had been collated for him by a friend in ,italy1 and another1 a manuscript in the ,national ,library of ,paris1 written in the eighth or ninth century1 and containing the four ,gospels2#hi the rest were modern1 and all were but imperfectly collated4#ij ,after the death of ,robert ,stephen 7#aeei7ia the work of revision was carried on by ,theodore ,beza1 who1 like the former1 had embraced the ,protestant cause1 and like him also had found a home in ,geneva4 ,his first edition was published in this city in #aefe1 a second in #aehb1 a third in #aehi1 and a fourth in #aeih4 ,in the preparation of these he had in his possession the collations made for ,robert ,stephen1 and1 in addition1 the ancient manuscript of the ,gospels and ,acts which now bears his name2 and for the ,pauline ,epistles1 the equally ancient ,claromontane4 ,beza's strength1 however1 lay rather in the interpretation1 than in the criticism1 of the text1 and he made but a slight use of the materials within his reach4 ,it will thus be seen how small1 comparatively1 was the manuscript authority for the text used by ,king ,james's translators4 ,in the main they follow the text of ,beza2 sometimes1 however1 they give the preference to ,stephen's2 in some few places they differ from both4 ,by what principles they were guided in their choice we do not know4 ,they do not appear to have set on foot any independent examination of authorities1 and when they forsake their two guides they commonly follow in the wake of some of the earlier ,english versions4 ,but1 as already stated1 manuscripts are not the only source whence we derive our knowledge of the original texts4 ,translations of the ,scriptures were made at an early date2 some at an earlier date than that of the oldest manuscripts now extant4 ,two of these were referred to in the first lecture2 namely1 the old ,latin and the old ,syriac1 both of which belong to the second century1 and give1 therefore1 most important testimony as to the words of ,scripture at that early period4 ,next to these in point of age may be placed the two ,egyptian versions1 one in the language of ,lower ,egypt1 and called the ,memphitic 7or ,coptic71 and the other in that of ,upper ,egypt1 and called the ,thebaic 7or ,sahidic74 ,in the opinion of competent judges1 some portions1 at least1 of the ,scriptures must have been translated into these dialects before the close of the second century2 in their completed form these versions may be referred to the earlier part of the third century4 ,a ,gothic version of the ,scriptures was made in the fourth century by ,ulphilas1 who was ,bishop of the ,moeso-,goths #cdh-chh2 and of this some valuable portions are still extant4 ,two other ancient versions1 the ,armenian 7cent4 #e71 and the thiopic 7cents4 #f and #g71 though of inferior importance1 are not without value4 ,during recent years a large amount of labour has been spent1 first1 in securing as accurate a knowledge as possible of the text of these various versions1 and then in investigating the evidence they supply respecting the original texts from which they were severally made4 ,from this source much valuable material has been obtained supplementary to that furnished by ,biblical manuscripts4 ,the works of early ,christian writers contain1 as might be expected1 large quotations of ,scripture passages4 ,some of these works are elaborate expositions of various books of the ,old and ,new ,testament1 and others are controversial writings in which there is a frequent necessity for appealing to ,scriptural authorities4 ,although not a few of the writings of the earliest ,christian authors have perished1 we have still a considerable collection of writings belonging to the second and third centuries1 whose pages supply us with valuable evidence concerning the text of the ,new ,testament1 of a date earlier than the oldest of our manuscripts4 ,we have also a still larger collection of writings belonging to the same age as that of our most ancient manuscripts1 and from them are able to gather a further mass of testimony in confirmation or correction of that given by these venerable documents4 ,the writings of ,irenus1 ,tertullian1 ,clement of ,alexandria1 and ,origen1 belonging to the latter part of the second century1 and the beginning of the third1 contain a large body of quotations from the ,gospels and ,epistles4 ,the works of ,origen alone may1 with scarcely any exaggeration1 be said to be equivalent to an additional manuscript of the ,new ,testament4 ,he died about ,a4,d4 #bec or #bed1 and during his entire life gave himself with a most indomitable perseverance to ,biblical studies4 ,in addition to an elaborate revision of the ,greek text of the ,septuagint1 upon which he spent eight and twenty years1 but of which unhappily some fragments only have reached us1 he composed expositions or homilies upon the larger part of the books of the ,old and ,new ,testaments4 ,of these some very considerable portions have come down to us1 and as his expositions on the ,old ,testament abound in quotations from the ,new1 the number of passages from the latter found in his writings is very large4 ,of writers belonging to the fourth century we have commentaries in ,greek by ,chrysostom and ,didymus1 and in ,latin by ,hilary of ,rome1 and ,jerome2 and1 in addition1 extensive theological treatises1 involving numerous appeals to the ,scriptures1 by ,athanasius1 ,ambrose1 ,basil1 ,epiphanius1 and the two ,gregorys4 ,in the following century we have the ,greek commentaries of ,theodore of ,mopsuestia and ,theodoret2 the commentary of ,pelagius on the ,epistles of ,paul2 and the voluminous writings of ,augustine1 including commentaries on the ,psalms1 the ,sermon on the ,mount1 ,john's ,gospel and ,epistles1 and ,paul's ,epistles to the ,romans and ,galatians1 together with a large number of ,homilies on various parts of ,scripture4 ,these numerous writings form a mine of wealth to the ,biblical critic2 but it is a mine that has only been diligently worked in comparatively recent years4 ,much wearisome toil has been necessary in bringing to light its treasures1 and these were either overlooked or neglected by the earlier editors of the ,greek ,new ,testament4 ,it may perhaps be thought that1 inasmuch as the documents from which these ,christian writings are obtained are themselves of a later date1 the testimony they give to the text of ,scripture is of no higher worth than that of ,biblical manuscripts of the same age4 ,the scribes1 it may be said1 would be influenced by the form of text then current1 and in copying these writings would naturally1 when ,scripture quotations occurred1 give them in the form with which they were familiar4 ,to some extent this may have been the case1 and the testimony of these writings is of less weight when they simply reflect the form of text which prevailed at the date when they were copied4 ,but then1 on the other hand1 their testimony is for the same reason proportionally the stronger whenever they do not agree with the current form1 but give a different reading4 ,moreover it must be remembered that in many cases the authors comment minutely upon the ,scripture text1 and that here their testimony is quite unaffected by any tendency on the part of the copyist to use a familiar form1 the comment itself showing beyond all doubt what was the form of the text which the author was expounding4 ,in all such places the testimony of these early writers is especially valuable4 ,from this mere outline of the manifold researches which scholars have made during the years that have passed since the ,revision of #afaa was issued1 some notion may be gathered of the extent to which our resources for the satisfactory determination of the sacred text have been multiplied4 ,it will hence be seen how great is the confidence with which we are thereby enabled to affirm the verbal correctness of that far larger portion of the text in which our numerous and varied authorities are all agreed1 and with what confidence also we can place our finger upon certain blemishes1 and say that here an error has crept in through the inadvertence1 or carelessness1 or ignorance of the transcriber4 ,if then there were no other reasons for the revision of the ,english ,bible1 this alone would be a sufficient ground for it4 ,when it is in the power of any one to say that there are passages in our common ,bibles which1 as there given1 are found in no ,greek manuscript whatever1 as is the case in ,acts ix41 the latter part of verse #e1 and the beginning of verse #f2 #a ,peter iii4 #bj2 ,heb4 xi4 #ac2 and ,rev4 ii4 #bj2 and when there are other passages1 respecting which the evidence is greatly preponderating1 that they ought to have no place in the text1 as is the case with ,matt4 vi4 #ac2 ,matt4 xvii4 #ba2 ,matt4 xxiii4 #ce 7last clause72 ,mark xv4 #bh2 ,luke xi4 #b1 #d 7the last clause of each verse72 ,john v4 #c 7last clause71 and #d2 ,acts viii4 #cg2 ,acts xv4 #cd2 ,acts xxviii4 #bi2 ,rom4 xi4 #f 7last clause72 #a ,cor4 vi4 #bj 7last clause72 #a ,cor4 x4 #bh 7last clause72 ,gal4 iii4 #a 7second clause72 ,heb4 xii4 #bj2 and #a ,john v41 from 8in heaven10 verse #g1 to 8in earth10 verse #h4 ,when these things can be said1 and can be truly said1 then all true lovers of the ,bible will earnestly demand that they be forthwith removed4 ,,lecture ,,viii4 ,,the ,,preparations ,,for ,,further ,,revision ,,made ,,during ,,the ,,past ,,two ,,centuries4 ,it has not been left to the present generation to be the first to recognize the force of the various considerations presented in the previous lectures4 ,the duty of providing for a further revision of the ,english ,bible has been handed down as a solemn trust from generation to generation4 ,every new discovery made of ,biblical manuscripts1 and every fresh field of research opened up1 has at once made the need of revision more apparent1 and given intensity to the desire that it should be undertaken2 and1 in their turn1 this quickened desire and this increase of material have prompted to renewed efforts in obtaining all possible subsidiary helps4 ,in this way it has come to pass that the whole period which has elapsed since the publication of the ,revision of #afaa has been in effect a time of preparation for another and further revision1 and here1 as elsewhere1 the divine law of human discipline has been verified1 that every work accomplished is but the starting-point for fresh endeavours4 ,in this work of preparation four distinct stages may be clearly traced3 the first1 that of unfriendly criticism2 the second1 that of premature attempts at correction2 the third1 that of diligent research and patient investigation2 and the fourth1 that of widespread conviction of the desirableness of further revision1 and the discussion of the plans by which it may best be accomplished4 ,from the very first the new version had to undergo an ordeal of criticism1 springing sometimes from personal pique1 sometimes from party prejudice1 sometimes from a one-sided attachment to a favourite doctrine1 the evidence for which seemed to be obscured by the rendering given to certain passages4 ,almost immediately upon the publication of the volume1 a violent attack was made upon it by ,hugh ,broughton1 who1 though a man of immense erudition1 and one of the best ,hebraists of the day1 was of so overbearing a temper that his offer to aid in the revision had been declined4 ,broughton declared that the version was so ill done that it bred in him a sadness which would grieve him whilst he breathed4 8,tell his ,majesty10 he passionately said1 8that ,i had rather be rent in pieces with wild horses than any such translation by my consent should be urged on poor churches40 ,in the sharp controversies of the ,commonwealth period the slight indications given by the version of a certain ecclesiastical bias were unduly exaggerated4 ,charges of a direct prelatic influence were freely made1 and various rumours were circulated1 as if upon good authority1 that ,archbishop ,bancroft had taken upon himself to introduce alterations in opposition to the judgment1 and even the protest of the translators4 ,influenced probably by the feeling thus awakened1 though not sharing it1 ,dr4 ,john ,lightfoot1 in a sermon preached before the ,long ,parliament on ,august #bfth1 #afde1ib expressed the hope that they would find some time among their serious employments to think of a 8review and survey of the translation of the ,bible40 8,and certainly10 he added1 8it would not be the least advantage that you might do to the three nations1 if they1 by your care and means1 might come to understand the proper and genuine reading of the ,scriptures by an exact1 vigorous1 and lively translation40 ,in #afec the charge that the ,new ,testament 8had been looked over by some ,prelates1 to bring it to speak the ,prelatical language10 was formally repeated in the preamble of a ,bill brought before the ,long ,parliament1 which proposed the appointment of a committee 8to search and observe wherein that last translation appears to be wronged by the ,prelates or printers or others40#ic ,in #afei a folio volume of #hje pages1 entitled1 8,an ,essay toward the ,amendment of the ,last ,english ,translation of the ,bible1 or a ,proof by many instances that the last ,translation of the ,bible into ,english may be improved10 was published by ,dr4 ,robert ,gell1 8,minister of the ,parish of ,st4 ,mary1 ,alder-,mary1 ,london40 ,dr4 ,gell was a man who stoutly maintained the doctrine that it is 8possible and attainable through the grace of ,god and ,his ,holy ,spirit that men may be without sin10 and his book is an elaborate attempt to show that this doctrine 8was frequently delivered in holy ,scripture1 though industriously obscured by our translators40 ,an attack of another kind was made a quarter of a century later1 by a ,roman ,catholic writer named ,thomas ,ward1 who1 repeating many of the charges made against the earlier ,english versions by ,gregory ,martin1 one of the authors of the ,rhemish version1 charged the translators with corrupting the ,holy ,scriptures by false and partial translations1 for the purpose of gaining unfair advantage in the controversy with the ,church of ,rome4#id ,these hostile criticisms1 though made in a spirit of partisanship and marred by much uncharitableness and unfairness1 were nevertheless of service4 ,they forced upon all1 though in a rude and unpleasant way1 the recognition of the fact that the new version1 with all its excellences1 was still the work of fallible men2 and despite their passion and their hard words1 they did undoubtedly hit some blots that here and there disfigured the sacred page4 ,to this extent they served to prepare the way for further revision4 ,a second stage in the process of preparation is seen in the various attempts which have been made to produce a version which should remove acknowledged blemishes1 and more faithfully convey the meaning of the holy ,word4 ,some of these have been based upon a well-conceived plan1 and have sought to accomplish the desired end by the united efforts of a band of fellow-labourers2 others have been the work of individual scholars1 and were for the most part of a tentative character1 intended simply to show what ought to be attempted1 and how it might be done2 others1 again1 have been the unwise labours of men who worked upon false principles1 and with insufficient knowledge2 but all have in their own way helped on the work1 the former two classes by their felicitous renderings of some passages1 and the light they have thrown upon the meaning of others1 and the last mentioned class by their clear demonstration of what a translation of the ,scriptures ought certainly not to be4 ,the first#ie serious attempt at a further revision was made by the ,rev4 ,henry ,jessey1 ,m4,a41 pastor of that greatly persecuted ,congregational ,church in ,southwark1 which had been gathered by ,henry ,jacob in #afaf4 ,in the time of the ,commonwealth proposals were made by ,jessey1 that 8godly and able men0 should be appointed by 8public authority0 8to review and amend the defects in our translation40 ,pending their appointment1 he set himself to secure the co-operation of a number of learned men1 at home and abroad1 writing to them in the following fashion3 8,there being a strange desire in many that love the truth1 to have a more pure1 proper translation of the originals than hitherto2 and ,i being moved and inclined to it1 and desirous to promote it with all possible speed and exactness1 do make my request 7now in my actual entrance on ,genesis7 that as you love the truth as it is in ,jesus1 and the edification of saints1 you with others 7in like manner solicited71 will take share and do each a part in the work1 which being finished will be fruit to your account40 ,of the names of his fellow-workers the only one recorded is that of ,mr4 ,john ,row1 ,hebrew professor at ,aberdeen1 8who took exceeding pains herein10 and who drew up the scheme in accordance with which the work was carried on4 ,jessey's proposal received at least so much of support from 8public authority10 that he was one of the committee whose appointment was recommended to the ,house of ,commons in #afec4 ,the result is thus quaintly told by ,jessey's biographer3#if 8,thus thorow his perswasions many persons excelling in knowledge1 integrity1 and holiness1 did buckle to this great ,worke of bettering the ,translation of the ,bible1 but their names are thought fit at present to be concealed to prevent undue ,reflections upon their persons2 but may come to light 7if that work shall ever come to be made publick71 and unto each of them was one particular book or more allotted1 according as they had leisure1 or as the bent of their ,genius1 advantages of ,books or ,studies lay1 which when supervised by all the rest1 dayes of assembling together were to have been set apart1 to seek the ,lord for ,his further direction1 and for conference with each other touching the matter then under consideration4 ,in process of time this whole work was almost compleated1 and stayed for nothing but the appointment of ,commissioners to examine it1 and warrant its publication40 ,the death of ,cromwell1 and the political events which followed1 prevented the realization of ,jessey's hopes4 ,it had been with him the work of many years of his life1 and his soul was so engaged in it that he frequently uttered the prayer1 8,o that ,i might see this done before ,i die40 ,the ecclesiastical events arising out of the ,act of ,uniformity 7#affb7 will sufficiently account for the absence of any efforts of revision during the latter part of the seventeenth century4 ,in the earlier part of the following century there appeared one of those ill-advised attempts1 whose chief use is to serve as a beacon of warning1 in the ,greek and ,english ,new ,testament1 published ,a4,d4 #agbi1 by ,w4 ,mace1 ,m4,d4#ig ,in his translation this author allowed himself to employ an unpleasantly free style of rendering1 and deemed it fitting to substitute the colloquial style of the day for the dignified simplicity of the version he undertook to amend4 ,towards the latter part of the century a considerable number of well-meant endeavours at revision were made by devout and scholarly men4 ,in #agfd 8,a new and literal ,translation of the ,old and ,new ,testament1 with notes1 critical and explanatory10 was published by ,anthony ,purver1 a member of the ,society of ,friends4 ,in #aggj there was issued 8,the ,new ,testament1 or ,new ,covenant of our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ1 translated from the ,greek according to the present idiom of the ,english tongue1 with notes and references10 by ,john ,worsley1 of ,hertford1 whose aim1 as stated in his preface1 was to bring his translation nearer to the original1 and 8to make the present form of expression more suitable to our present language10 adding1 with a laudable desire to repudiate all sympathy with those who forced the ,scripture to say what1 according to their own fancies1 it ought to say1 8,i have no design to countenance any particular opinions or sentiments4 ,i have weighed1 as it were1 every word in a balance1 even to the minutest particle1 begging the gracious aid of the ,divine ,spirit to lead me into the true and proper meaning1 that ,i might give a just and exact translation of this great and precious charter of man's salvation40#ih ,in #agha ,gilbert ,wakefield1 late ,fellow of ,jesus ,college1 ,cambridge1 but then classical tutor of the ,warrington ,academy1 published 8a new translation of the ,first ,epistle of ,paul the ,apostle to the ,thessalonians1 offered to the public as a specimen of an intended version of the whole ,new ,testament1 with a preface containing a brief account of the ,author's plan40 ,this was followed in #aghb by a new translation of the ,gospel of ,matthew1 and in #agia by a translation of the whole of the ,new ,testament4#ii ,in #aghf a ,roman ,catholic clergyman 7the ,rev4 ,alexander ,geddes1 ,,ll4,d47 issued a prospectus of 8a ,new ,translation of the ,holy ,bible from corrected texts of the originals1 compared with the ,ancient ,versions40 ,this prospectus was very favourably received by many of the leading ,biblical scholars of the day1 especially by the great ,hebraist1 ,dr4 ,benjamin ,kennicott1 ,canon of ,christchurch1 and by ,dr4 ,robert ,lowth1 ,bishop of ,london1 and was followed in #aghh by formal proposals for printing the book by subscription4 ,the first volume appeared in #agib1 with the title 8,the ,holy ,bible1 or the ,books accounted sacred by ,jews and ,christians2 otherwise called the ,books of the ,old and ,new ,covenants1 faithfully translated from corrected texts of the ,originals1 with various readings1 explanatory notes1 and critical remarks40 ,two other volumes were afterwards published2 but the death of the author1 in #ahja1 prevented the completion of the work4#ajj ,in #agif ,dr4 ,william ,newcome1 ,archbishop of ,armagh1 published 8,an attempt towards revising our ,english ,translation of the ,greek ,scriptures1 or the ,new ,covenant of ,jesus ,christ2 and towards illustrating the sense by philological and explanatory notes40 ,passing over some other works less worthy of notice1 a scholarly attempt was made in #ahcf by ,grenville ,penn to introduce into the ,english version some of the results which had then been attained by the critical examination of ancient authorities4 ,this work bore the title1 8,the ,book of the ,new ,covenant of our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ1 being a critical revision of the text and translation of the ,english version of the ,new ,testament1 with the aid of most ancient manuscripts1 unknown to the age in which that version was last put forth by authority40 ,it is not to be supposed that any of these translations were published with the expectation of securing so large a measure of favour as to supersede the current version4 ,their primary purpose was to aid the private study of the ,bible2 but they have been of great service also in keeping the general question of revision before the notice of thoughtful persons1 and they have each in their measure contributed to a more exact knowledge of the ,scriptures4 ,the failure of the earlier of these attempts at revision arose in part from the imperfect state of the texts upon which they were based4 ,this soon became obvious1 and ,biblical scholars saw that for some time to come their labours must be spent rather in laying the foundation for a future revision than in attempting it themselves1 and this in three distinct departments4 ,the first of these was the collection1 as described in the last lecture1 of the material supplied by ancient manuscripts1 and by early versions and quotations4 ,in this department a long succession of faithful men have laboured1 amongst whom may be mentioned ,brian ,walton1 who in #afeg published his famous ,polyglot ,bible in six folio volumes1 giving in addition to the original ,hebrew and ,greek1 the ,samaritan ,pentateuch1 the ,septuagint1 ,latin1 ,syriac1 ,arabic1 thiopic1 and ,persian versions2 ,dr4 ,john ,mill1 whose ,new ,testament was published in #aggj1 and of whom it has been justly said that 8his services to ,bible criticism surpass in extent and value those rendered by any other except one or two men yet living20#aja ,dr4 ,richard ,bentley1 who1 having himself collated the ,alexandrine and other ancient ,,mss41 and by various agencies amassed a large store of critical material1 published in #agbj his 8,proposals for ,printing0 revised texts both of the ,greek ,new ,testament and the ,latin ,vulgate2 ,dr4 ,kennicott1 who in #agfj aroused public attention to the importance of collating all ,hebrew ,,mss4 made before the invention of printing1 and who personally1 or through the aid of others1 collated more than six hundred ,hebrew ,,mss41 and sixteen ,,mss4 of the ,samaritan ,pentateuch2 ,john ,bernard de ,rossi1 professor of ,oriental languages in the ,university of ,parma1 who in #aghd-h published the results of the collation of seven hundred and thirty-one ,,mss41 and of three hundred editions of the ,hebrew ,scriptures2 and1 to come to more recent times1 ,dr4 ,constantine ,tischendorf1 ,dr4 ,samuel ,prideaux ,tregelles1 and ,dr4 ,frederick ,henry ,scrivener1 whose names are to be held in the highest honour1 as of men who have rendered invaluable service to their own and future generations in the exhausting and self-denying work of the collation of ,biblical ,,mss41 and through whose care and accuracy the means of obtaining an exact knowledge of a large number of most precious documents have been placed within easy reach of all4 ,the second department of labour is the application of the material thus collected to the correction of the text4 ,here again a vast amount of patient work has been done1 and out of the successive labours of a long series of critics much valuable experience has been gained and the best methods gradually learnt4 ,amongst those who have thus laboured in the criticism of the text of the ,new ,testament may be mentioned the names of ,bengel1 ,wettstein1 ,griesbach1 ,scholz1 ,tischendorf1 ,lachmann1 ,alford1 ,tregelles1 ,westcott1 and ,hort2 and of that of the ,old ,testament1 ,buxtorf1 ,leusden1 ,van der ,hooght1 ,michaelis1 ,houbigant1 ,kennicott1 and ,jahn4 ,the third department is that which is concerned with the investigation of the meaning of the sacred writers2 and how much has been done in this will be manifest to any one who makes the attempt to reckon up the long series of commentaries1 ,english and ,continental1 on the books of the ,holy ,scriptures1 published since the ,revision of #afaa1 commencing with the ,annotations of the eminent ,nonconformist1 ,henry ,ainsworth1 on the ,pentateuch1 ,psalms1 and ,song of ,solomon1 #afbg1 down to the recent commentaries on ,galatians1 ,philippians1 ,colossians1 and ,philemon1 by ,dr4 ,j4 ,b4 ,lightfoot1 the present ,bishop of ,durham4 ,the attempt to make this enumeration will deepen the desire that the light which has been shed upon the ,bible by this long succession of its learned and earnest students should now be employed for the guidance and help of the ordinary readers of its pages4 ,to such desire emphatic expression has been given in various ways through full two generations1 with an ever increasing intensity1 and by representative men amongst all ,christian communities4 ,so early in the present century as the year #ahji1 ,dr4 ,john ,pye ,smith1 ,president of the ,congregational ,college at ,homerton1 thus wrote3 8,that such blemishes should disfigure that translation of the best and most important of volumes1 which has been and still is more read by thousands of the pious than any other version1 ancient or modern2 that they should be acknowledged by all competent judges to exist2 that they should have been so long and often complained of2 and yet that there has been no great public act1 from high and unimpeachable authority1 for removing them1 we are constrained to view as a disgrace to our national literature4 ,we do not wish to see our common version1 now become venerable by age and prescription1 superseded by another entirely new2 every desirable purpose would be satisfactorily attained by a faithful and well-conducted revision40#ajb ,in the following year 7#ahaj7 ,dr4 ,herbert ,marsh1 then ,margaret ,professor of ,divinity at ,cambridge1 and subsequently ,bishop of ,peterborough1 in the first edition of his ,lectures wrote3 8,it is probable that our authorised version is as faithful a representation of the original ,scriptures as could have been formed at that period4 ,but when we consider the immense accession that has since been made1 both to our critical and philological apparatus20 8when we consider that the most important sources of intelligence for the interpretation of the original ,scriptures were likewise opened after that period1 we cannot possibly pretend that our authorised version does not require amendment40#ajc ,in #ahaf ,thomas ,wemyss1 a learned layman1 who had devoted himself to ,biblical studies1 called attention1 under the title of ,biblical ,gleanings1 to a number of passages which were generally allowed to be mistranslated2 and in #ahai ,sir ,james ,bland ,burges published ,reasons in favour of a ,new ,translation of the ,scriptures4 ,during a few years after this1 the subject remained in abeyance1 but in #ahcb there was published1 at ,cambridge1 a calm and scholarly pamphlet1 entitled ,hints on an ,improved ,translation of the ,new ,testament1 by the ,rev4 ,james ,scholefield1 ,a4,m41 ,regius ,professor of ,greek in the ,university of ,cambridge4 ,a second edition was issued in #ahcf1 and a third1 with an appendix1 in #ahdi4 ,through these and other publications a widely-spread conviction was produced that the work ought at length to be attempted1 and in the years #ahee-eg the question was in a very emphatic form brought under public notice4 ,in the ,edinburgh ,review of ,october1 #ahee1 in a notice of a certain ,paragraph ,bible then recently published1 there appeared the following words3 8,surely it is high time for a further revision4 ,it is now almost #bej years since the last was made4 ,during that long period neither the researches of the clergy nor the intelligence of the laity have remained stationary4 ,we have become desirous of knowing more1 and they have acquired more to teach us4 ,vast stores of ,biblical information have been accumulating since the days of ,james ,i41 by which1 not merely the rendering of the ,common ,version1 but the purity of the ,sacred ,text itself1 might be improved4 ,and it is essential to the interests of religion that that information should be fully1 freely1 and in an authoritative form1 disseminated abroad by a careful correction of our received version of the ,sacred ,scriptures40 ,in the following year1 #ahef1 the ,rev4 ,william ,selwyn1 ,canon of ,ely1 and ,lady ,margaret ,professor of ,divinity at ,cambridge1 sent forth his ,notes on the proposed ,amendment of the ,authorized ,version of the ,holy ,scriptures1 in which he states3 8,i do not hesitate to avow my firm persuasion that there are at least one thousand passages of the ,english ,bible that might be amended without any change in the general texture and justly reverenced language of the version40 ,in ,july of the same year an address to the ,crown was moved in the ,house of ,commons by ,mr4 ,heywood1 member for ,north ,lancashire1 praying that ,her ,majesty would appoint a ,royal ,commission of learned men to consider of such amendments of the authorized version of the ,bible as had been already proposed1 and to receive suggestions from all persons who might be willing to offer them1 and to report the amendments which they might be prepared to recommend4 ,in the ,january of the following year a resolution in support of revision was proposed at the general meeting of the ,society for ,promoting ,christian ,knowledge1 by the ,rev4 ,g4 ,f4 ,biber1 ,,ll4,d41 who subsequently published the substance of his speech in support of this resolution1 under the title1 ,a ,plea for an ,edition of the ,authorized ,version of ,holy ,scripture with explanatory and emendatory marginal readings4 ,pamphlets also were published the same year by ,dr4 ,beard and by ,dr4 ,henry ,burgess2 but1 what it is more important to note1 in that year there was published the first of a series of works which were intended to show by example the kind of work which the wiser advocates of revision desired to see undertaken4 ,this was ,the ,gospel according to ,john1 after the ,authorized ,version1 newly compared with the original ,greek1 and revised by five clergymen--,john ,barrow1 ,d4,d42 ,george ,moberly1 ,d4,c4,l42 ,henry ,alford1 ,b4,d42 ,william ,g4 ,humphry1 ,b4,d42 ,charles ,j4 ,ellicott1 ,m4,a4 ,in that same year also ,dr4 ,trench1 then ,dean of ,westminster 7now ,archbishop of ,dublin71 published his work ,on the ,authorized ,version of the ,new ,testament2 and in #ahfc ,dr4 ,plumptre1 in the ,dictionary of the ,bible1 reiterated the statement1 8,the work ought not to be delayed much longer40 ,in the spring of #ahgj the desirableness of a fresh revision of the ,english ,bible was advocated--by ,dr4 ,j4 ,b4 ,lightfoot in a paper read before a meeting of clergy2 by the writer of these lectures in a paper read before the annual meeting of the ,congregational ,union of ,england and ,wales2 by the ,british ,quarterly ,review in its ,january number2 and1 finally1 by the ,quarterly ,review in its ,april number4 ,a weighty sentence from the last-mentioned writer will be a fitting conclusion to the present lecture4 8,it is positive unfaithfulness on the part of those who have ability and opportunity to decline the task4 ,the ,word of ,god1 just because it is ,god's ,word1 ought to be presented to every reader in a state as pure and perfect as human learning1 skill1 and taste can make it4 ,the higher our veneration for it the more anxious ought we to be to free it from every blemish1 however small and unimportant4 ,but nothing in truth can be unimportant which dims the light of ,divine ,revelation40 ,,lecture ,,ix4 ,,the ,,revision ,,of #ahha4 ,to the general consensus of opinion described in the last lecture practical expression was first given by the action of the ,convocation of ,canterbury1 in the early part of #ahgj4 ,on ,february #aj1 #ahgj1 a resolution was moved in the ,upper ,house of ,convocation by ,dr4 ,wilberforce1 ,bishop of ,winchester1 and seconded by ,dr4 ,ellicott1 ,bishop of ,gloucester and ,bristol1 8,that a ,committee of both ,houses be appointed1 with power to confer with any committee that may be appointed by the ,convocation of the ,northern ,province1 to report upon the desirableness of a revision of the ,authorized ,version of the ,new ,testament1 whether by marginal notes or otherwise1 in all those passages where plain and clear errors1 whether in the ,greek ,text originally adopted by the translators1 or in the translation made from the same1 shall1 on due investigation1 be found to exist40 ,on the motion of ,dr4 ,ollivant1 ,bishop of ,llandaff1 seconded by ,dr4 ,thirlwall1 ,bishop of ,st4 ,davids1 it was agreed to enlarge this resolution so as to include the ,old ,testament also1 and the resolution as so amended was ultimately adopted4 ,this resolution was communicated to the ,lower ,house on the following day 7,february #aa71 where it was accepted without a division4 ,the joint ,committee appointed in accordance with this resolution consisted of seven ,bishops and fourteen ,members of the ,lower ,house4#ajd ,this ,committee met on ,march #bdth1 and agreed to the following report3#aje ,i4 8,that it is desirable that a ,revision of the ,authorized ,version of the ,holy ,scriptures be undertaken40 ,,ii4 8,that the ,revision be so conducted as to comprise both ,marginal renderings1 and such emendations as it may be found necessary to insert in the text of the ,authorized ,version40 ,,iii4 8,that in the above ,resolutions we do not contemplate any new translation of the ,bible1 or any alteration of the language except where1 in the judgment of the most competent ,scholars1 such change is necessary40 ,,iv4 8,that in such necessary changes1 the style of the language employed in the existing ,version be closely followed40 ,v4 8,that it is desirable that ,convocation should nominate a body of its own ,members to undertake the work of ,revision1 who shall be at liberty to invite the co-operation of any eminent for scholarship1 to whatever nation or religious body they may belong40 ,this ,report was presented to the ,upper ,house on ,may #crd1 where its adoption was moved by ,bishop ,wilberforce1 and seconded by ,bishop ,thirlwall1 and carried unanimously4 ,bishop ,wilberforce then moved1 and ,bishop ,thirlwall seconded1 8,that a ,committee be now appointed to consider and ,report to ,convocation a scheme of revision on the principles laid down in the ,report now adopted1 and that the ,bishops of ,winchester1 ,st4 ,davids1 ,llandaff1 ,gloucester and ,bristol1 ,salisbury1 ,ely1 ,lincoln1 and ,bath and ,wells1 be members of the ,committee4 ,that the ,committee be empowered to invite the co-operation of those whom they may judge fit from their ,biblical ,scholarship to aid them in their work40 ,this also was carried unanimously4 ,in the ,lower ,house the above given ,report of the joint ,committee was presented on ,may #eth1 when its adoption was moved by ,canon ,selwyn1#ajf and seconded by ,archdeacon ,allen4 ,in the discussion which followed two attempts were made to overthrow the principle embodied in the fifth resolution1 and to confine the revision to ,scholars in communion with the ,church of ,england4 ,both of these were unsuccessful1 and the adoption of the ,report was carried1 with two dissentients only4 ,on the following day1 ,may #fth1 the ,house completed its action by agreeing to the suggestion of the ,upper ,house1 that on this occasion it should waive its privilege of appointing on joint ,committees twice as many as were appointed by the ,upper ,house1 and should appoint eight ,members only to co-operate with the eight ,bishops mentioned above4 ,the ,members selected were ,dr4 ,bickersteth the ,prolocutor1 ,dean ,alford1 ,dean ,stanley1 ,canon ,blakesley1 ,canon ,selwyn1 ,archdeacon ,rose1 ,dr4 ,jebb1 and ,dr4 ,kay4 ,the first meeting of this second joint ,committee was held on ,may #beth4 ,it was then agreed that the ,committee should separate into two ,companies--one for the revision of the ,old ,testament1 and one for that of the ,new4 ,of the ,members of ,committee belonging to the ,upper ,house five were assigned to the former ,company and three to the latter4 ,the ,members belonging to the ,lower ,house were divided equally between the two ,companies4 ,at the same meeting the ,committee selected the ,scholars who should be invited to join the ,companies1 and also decided upon the general rules that should guide their procedure4 ,these were3 #a4 8,to introduce as few alterations as possible into the ,text of the ,authorized ,version consistently with faithfulness40 #b4 8,to limit as far as possible the expression of such alterations to the language of the ,authorized and earlier ,english versions40 #c4 8,each ,company to go twice over the portion to be revised1 once provisionally1 the second time finally1 and on principles of voting as hereinafter is provided40 #d4 8,that the ,text to be adopted be that for which the evidence is decidedly preponderating2 and that when the ,text so adopted differs from that from which the ,authorized ,version was made1 the alteration be indicated in the margin40 #e4 8,to make or retain no change in the ,text on the second and final revision by each ,company1 except two-thirds of those present approve of the same1 but on the first revision to decide by simple majorities40 #f4 8,in every case of proposed alteration that may have given rise to discussion1 to defer the voting thereupon till the next ,meeting1 whensoever the same shall be required by one-third of those present at the ,meeting1 such intended vote to be announced in the notice for the next ,meeting40 #g4 8,to revise the headings of chapters1 pages1 paragraphs1 italics1 and punctuation40 #h4 8,to refer on the part of each ,company1 when considered desirable1 to ,divines1 ,scholars1 and ,literary ,men1 whether at home or abroad1 for their opinions40 ,to these it was added1 that the work of each ,company be communicated to the other as it is completed1 in order that there may be as little deviation from uniformity in language as possible4 ,of the ,scholars invited to join the ,companies four#ajg declined for various reasons1 and one#ajh was prevented by illness from taking part in the work4 ,the two ,companies when formed consisted of the following ,members4 ,,the ,,old ,,testament ,,company4 ,dr4 ,w4 ,l4 ,alexander1 ,professor of ,theology in the ,congregational ,theological ,hall1 ,edinburgh4 ,dr4 ,e4 ,h4 ,browne1 ,bishop of ,ely4#aji ,mr4 ,o4 ,t4 ,chenery1 ,lord ,almoner's ,professor of ,arabic1 ,oxford4 ,dr4 ,a4 ,b4 ,davidson1 ,professor of ,hebrew1 ,free ,church ,college1 ,edinburgh4 ,dr4 ,benjamin ,davies1 ,professor of ,hebrew1 ,baptist ,college1 ,regent's ,park4 ,dr4 ,p4 ,fairbairn1 ,principal of ,free ,church ,college1 ,glasgow4 ,dr4 ,f4 ,field4 ,dr4 ,ginsburg4 ,dr4 ,f4 ,w4 ,gotch1 ,principal of the ,baptist ,college1 ,bristol4 ,rev4 ,b4 ,harrison1 ,archdeacon of ,maidstone4 ,dr4 ,a4 ,c4 ,hervey1 ,bishop of ,bath and ,wells4 ,dr4 ,j4 ,jebb1 ,canon of ,hereford4 ,dr4 ,w4 ,kay1 late ,principal of ,bishop's ,college1 ,calcutta4 ,dr4 ,stanley ,leathes1 ,professor of ,hebrew1 ,king's ,college1 ,london4 ,rev4 ,j4 ,mc,gill1 ,professor of ,oriental ,languages1 ,st4 ,andrews4 ,dr4 ,a4 ,ollivant1 ,bishop of ,llandaff4 ,dr4 ,r ,payne ,smith1 ,regius ,professor of ,divinity1 ,oxford4#aaj ,dr4 ,j4 ,j4 ,s4 ,perowne1 ,professor of ,hebrew1 ,st4 ,davids ,college1 ,lampeter4#aaa ,rev4 ,e4 ,h4 ,plumptre1#aab ,professor of ,new ,testament ,exegesis1 ,king's ,college1 ,london4 ,dr4 ,h4 ,j4 ,rose1 ,archdeacon of ,bedford4 ,dr4 ,w4 ,selwyn1 ,canon of ,ely1 and ,lady ,margaret ,professor of ,divinity1 ,cambridge4 ,dr4 ,connop ,thirlwall1 ,bishop of ,st4 ,davids4 ,dr4 ,christopher ,wordsworth1 ,bishop of ,lincoln4 ,mr4 ,w4 ,a4 ,wright1 ,librarian#aac of ,trinity ,college1 ,cambridge4 ,,the ,,new ,,testament ,,company4 ,dr4 ,h4 ,alford1 ,dean of ,canterbury4 ,dr4 ,j4 ,angus1 ,principal of the ,baptist ,college1 ,regent's ,park4 ,dr4 ,e4 ,h4 ,bickersteth1 ,prolocutor of the ,lower ,house of ,convocation4#aad ,dr4 ,j4 ,w4 ,blakesley1 ,canon of ,canterbury4#aae ,dr4 ,j4 ,eadie1 ,professor of ,biblical ,literature and ,exegesis to the ,united ,presbyterian ,church1 ,scotland4 ,dr4 ,c4 ,j4 ,ellicott1 ,bishop of ,gloucester and ,bristol4 ,rev4 ,f4 ,j4 ,a4 ,hort4#aaf ,rev4 ,w4 ,g4 ,humphry1 ,prebendary of ,st4 ,paul's4 ,dr4 ,b4 ,h4 ,kennedy1 ,canon of ,ely1 and ,regius ,professor of ,greek1 ,cambridge4 ,dr4 ,w4 ,lee1 ,archdeacon of ,dublin4 ,dr4 ,j4 ,b4 ,lightfoot4#aag ,dr4 ,w4 ,milligan1 ,professor of ,divinity1 ,aberdeen4 ,dr4 ,g4 ,moberly1 ,bishop of ,salisbury4 ,rev4 ,w4 ,f4 ,moulton1 ,professor of ,classics1 ,wesleyan ,college1 ,richmond4#aah ,rev4 ,samuel ,newth1 ,professor of ,classics1 ,new ,college1 ,london4#aai ,dr4 ,a4 ,roberts4#abj ,dr4 ,r4 ,scott1 ,master of ,balliol ,college1 ,oxford4#aba ,rev4 ,f4 ,h4 ,scrivener4#abb ,dr4 ,g4 ,vance ,smith4#abc ,dr4 ,a4 ,p4 ,stanley1 ,dean of ,westminster4 ,dr4 ,r4 ,c4 ,trench1 ,archbishop of ,dublin4 ,dr4 ,c4 ,j4 ,vaughan1 ,master of the ,temple4#abd ,dr4 ,b4 ,f4 ,westcott1 ,canon of ,peterborough4#abe ,dr4 ,s4 ,wilberforce1 ,bishop of ,winchester4 ,to these lists some changes have1 from various causes1 been made in the course of the last ten years1 both in the way of addition1 and in the way of removal4 99 99 99 99 99 ,to the ,old ,testament ,company thirteen members have been added-- ,mr4 ,r4 ,n4 ,bensley1 ,hebrew ,lecturer1 ,caius ,college1 ,cambridge4 ,rev4 ,j4 ,birrill1 ,professor of ,oriental ,languages1 ,st ,andrews1 ,scotland4 ,dr4 ,f4 ,chance4 ,rev4 ,t4 ,k4 ,cheyne1 ,hebrew ,lecturer1 ,balliol ,college1 ,oxford4 ,dr4 ,g4 ,douglas1 ,professor of ,hebrew1 ,free ,church ,college1 ,glasgow4 ,mr4 ,s4 ,r ,driver1 ,tutor of ,new ,college1 ,oxford4 ,rev4 ,c4 ,j4 ,elliott4 ,rev4 ,j4 ,d4 ,geden1 ,professor of ,hebrew1 ,wesleyan ,college1 ,didsbury4 ,rev4 ,j4 ,r4 ,lumby1 ,fellow of ,st4 ,catherine's ,college1 ,cambridge4#abf ,rev4 ,a4 ,h4 ,sayce1 ,tutor of ,queen's ,college1 ,oxford4 ,rev4 ,w4 ,robertson ,smith1 ,professor of ,hebrew1 ,free ,church ,college1 ,aberdeen4 ,dr4 ,d4 ,h4 ,weir1 ,professor of ,oriental ,languages1 ,glasgow4 ,dr4 ,w4 ,wright1 ,professor of ,arabic1 ,cambridge4 ,during the same period it has lost ten members1 seven by death3 ,professor ,davies1 ,professor ,fairbairn1 ,professor ,mc,gill1 ,archdeacon ,rose1 ,canon ,selwyn1 ,bishop ,thirlwall1 ,professor ,weir2 and three by resignation--,canon ,jebb1 ,professor ,plumptre1 and ,bishop ,wordsworth4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,new ,testament ,company has undergone less change4 ,four members have been added-- ,dr4 ,david ,brown1 ,professor of ,divinity1 ,free ,church ,college1 ,aberdeen4 ,dr4 ,c4 ,merivale1 ,dean of ,ely4 ,rev4 ,edwin ,palmer1 ,professor of ,latin1 ,oxford4#abg ,dr4 ,charles ,wordsworth1 ,bishop of ,st4 ,andrews4 ,four also have been removed--,dean ,alford1 ,dr4 ,eadie1 and ,bishop ,wilberforce by death1 ,dean ,merivale by resignation4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the first chairman of the ,old ,testament ,company was ,bishop ,thirlwall4 ,upon his resignation of the office in #ahga ,dr4 ,harold ,browne1 then ,bishop of ,ely1 now ,bishop of ,winchester1 was appointed to succeed him1 and has continued to hold the office until now4 ,dr4 ,ellicott1 ,bishop of ,gloucester and ,bristol1 has from the first presided over the ,new ,testament ,company4 ,the ,old ,testament ,company appointed one of their own number1 ,mr4 ,aldis ,wright1 to act as their secretary1 taking the minutes of their proceedings1 and conducting all needful correspondence4 ,the ,new ,testament ,company deemed it better to assign this office to one who was not himself burthened with the responsibilities of the revision1 and they were happily able to secure the efficient services of the ,rev4 ,john ,troutbeck1 ,m4,a41 one of the ,minor ,canons of ,westminster ,abbey4 ,it will be seen that of the sixty-five ,english scholars who have taken part in this work forty-one have been members of the ,church of ,england1 and twenty-four members of other churches4 ,of the latter number two represent the ,episcopal ,church of ,ireland1 one the ,episcopal ,church of ,scotland1 four the ,baptists1 three the ,congregationalists1 five the ,free ,church of ,scotland1 five the ,established ,church of ,scotland1 one the ,united ,presbyterians1 one the ,unitarians1 and two the ,wesleyan ,methodists4 ,it is on many grounds a matter for thankfulness that they who took the initiative in the formation of the two ,companies were able to secure so wide a representation of the various religious communities of our country1 and men belonging to different schools of religious thought4 ,for while no one can reasonably suppose that in the present day any body of ,scholars would consciously allow themselves in the translation of the ,scriptures to be swayed by any theological bias1 there is1 as all know1 such a thing as unconscious bias2 and it was greatly to be desired that no such suspicion should be raised against this ,revision as for a long time obtained in reference to the ,revision of #afaa4 ,it was also to be desired that no ground should exist that would give an excuse for any to say that through the bias of theological prepossessions the interpretations given by some to important passages of ,scripture were unconsciously ignored1 and that1 had such interpretations been brought under the consideration of the ,revisers1 they must1 as honest scholars1 have accepted them4 ,such a ground of objection has happily been excluded by the constitution of the two ,companies4 ,the varieties of theological opinion found amongst the ,revisers have been an efficient protection against any lapse of the kind referred to1 and it may safely be affirmed that no interpretation of any important doctrinal passage for which any respectable amount of authority could be claimed has failed to come under notice1 or to receive a careful examination4 ,the advantage resulting from this varied representation in the membership of the two ,companies has been still further extended by the arrangements which have secured the co-operation of a considerable number of ,american ,scholars4 ,shortly after the formation of the two ,companies steps were taken for enlisting such co-operation2 and after some correspondence with representative men in ,america1 the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,philip ,schaff1 of ,new ,york1 was requested to act on behalf of the ,english ,companies in selecting and inviting ,american ,scholars4 ,in ,october1 #ahga1 it was reported to the ,new ,testament ,company that ,dr4 ,schaff had verbally informed the secretary that the ,american ,revisers were prepared to enter upon their work4 ,various causes of delay1 however1 intervened1 and it was not until ,july #agth1 #ahgb1 that the communication was made that the ,american ,companies were duly constituted4 ,these ,companies held their first meeting on the #dth of ,october in that year4 ,the following is the list of their ,members4 ,,the ,,old ,,testament ,,company4 ,professor ,t4 ,j4 ,conant1 ,baptist1 ,brooklyn1 ,new ,york4 ,professor ,g4 ,e4 ,day1 ,congregationalist1 ,new ,haven1 ,conn4 ,professor ,j4 ,de ,witt1 ,reformed ,church1 ,new ,brunswick1 ,n4,j4 ,professor ,w4 ,h4 ,green1 ,presbyterian1 ,princeton1 ,n4,j4 ,professor ,g4 ,e4 ,hare1 ,episcopalian1 ,philadelphia1 ,pa4 ,professor ,c4 ,p4 ,krauth1 ,lutheran1 ,philadelphia1 ,pa4 ,professor ,joseph ,packard1 ,episcopalian1 ,fairfax1 ,va4 ,professor ,c4 ,e4 ,stowe1 ,congregationalist1 ,cambridge1 ,mass4 ,professor ,j4 ,strong1 ,methodist1 ,madison1 ,n4,j4 ,professor ,c4 ,v4 ,van ,dyke1#abh ,beirt1 ,syria4 ,professor ,t4 ,lewis1 ,reformed ,church1 ,schenectady1 ,n4,j4 ,in all eleven members4 ,,the ,,new ,,testament ,,company4 ,professor ,ezra ,abbot1 ,unitarian1 ,cambridge1 ,mass4 ,dr4 ,g4 ,r4 ,crooks1 ,methodist1 ,new ,york4 ,professor ,h4 ,b4 ,hackett1 ,baptist1 ,rochester1 ,n4,y4 ,professor ,j4 ,hadley1 ,congregationalist1 ,new ,haven1 ,conn4 ,professor ,c4 ,hodge1 ,presbyterian1 ,princeton1 ,n4,j4 ,professor ,a4 ,c4 ,kendrick1 ,baptist1 ,rochester1 ,n4,y4 ,dr4 ,alfred ,lee1 ,bishop of ,delaware4 ,professor ,m4 ,b4 ,riddle1 ,reformed ,church1 ,hartford1 ,conn4 ,professor ,philip ,schaff1 ,presbyterian1 ,new ,york4 ,professor ,c4 ,short1 ,episcopalian1 ,new ,york4 ,professor ,h4 ,b4 ,smith1 ,presbyterian1 ,new ,york4 ,professor ,j4 ,h4 ,thayer1 ,congregationalist1 ,andover1 ,mass4 ,professor ,w4 ,f4 ,warren1 ,methodist1 ,boston1 ,mass4 ,dr4 ,e4 ,a4 ,washburn1 ,episcopalian1 ,new ,york4 ,dr4 ,t4 ,d4 ,woolsey1 ,congregationalist1 ,new ,haven1 ,conn4 ,in all fifteen members4 ,four ,members have since been added to the ,old ,testament ,company2 namely3 ,professor ,c4 ,a4 ,aiken1 ,presbyterian1 ,princeton1 ,n4,j4 ,dr4 ,t4 ,w4 ,chambers1 ,reformed ,church1 ,new ,york4 ,professor ,c4 ,m4 ,mead1 ,congregationalist1 ,andover1 ,mass4 ,professor ,h4 ,osgood1 ,baptist1 ,rochester1 ,n4,y4 ,one ,member1 ,professor ,t4 ,lewis1 has been removed by death4 ,four ,members have been added to the ,new ,testament ,company3 ,dr4 ,j4 ,k4 ,burr1 ,methodist1 ,trenton1 ,n4,y4 ,dr4 ,t4 ,chase1 ,baptist1 ,president of ,haverford ,college1 ,pa4 ,dr4 ,h4 ,crosby1 ,baptist1 ,chancellor of ,new ,york ,university4 ,professor ,timothy ,dwight1 ,congregationalist1 ,new ,haven1 ,conn4 ,four also have been removed by death1 ,dr4 ,hackett1 ,dr4 ,hadley1 ,dr4 ,c4 ,hodge1 ,dr4 ,h4 ,b4 ,smith2 and two by resignation1 ,dr4 ,crooks and ,dr4 ,warren4 99 99 99 99 99 ,it hence results that altogether ninety-nine ,scholars have1 to a greater or less extent1 taken part in the work of this revision1 forty-nine of whom have been members of the ,episcopalian ,churches of ,england1 ,scotland1 ,ireland1 and ,america1 and fifty members of other ,christian ,churches4 ,this fact is in itself full of interest and significance4 ,upon no previous revision have so many ,scholars been engaged4 ,in no previous revision has the co-operation of those who were engaged upon it been so equally diffused over all the parts of the work4 ,in no previous revision have those who took the lead in originating it1 and carrying it forward1 shown so large a measure of ,christian confidence in ,scholars who were outside of their own communion4 ,in no previous revision have such effective precautions been created by the very composition of the body of ,revisers1 against accidental oversight1 or against any lurking bias that might arise from natural tendencies or from ecclesiastical prepossessions4 ,on these accounts alone1 if on no other1 this revision may be fairly said to possess peculiar claims upon the confidence of all thoughtful and devout readers of the ,bible4 ,the ,new ,testament ,company assembled for the first time on ,wednesday1 ,june #bbnd1 #ahgj4 ,they met in the ,chapel of ,henry ,,vii41 and there united in the celebration of the ,lord's ,supper4 ,after this act of worship and holy communion they formally entered upon the task assigned to them4 ,the ,old ,testament ,company held their first meeting on ,june #cjth4 ,by the kindness of the ,dean of ,westminster1 the ,new ,testament ,company was permitted to hold its meetings in the ,jerusalem ,chamber4 ,this room1 originally the parlour of the ,abbot's ,palace1 is associated with many interesting events of ,english history4 ,it was to this spot that ,henry ,,iv4 was conveyed when seized with his last illness2 and here1 on ,march #bjth1 #adac1 he died4 ,it was here1 in the days of the ,long ,parliament1 that the celebrated ,assembly of ,divines1 driven by the cold from ,henry ,,vii4's ,chapel1 held its sixty-sixth session1 on ,monday1 ,october #bnd1 #afdc2 and here thenceforward it continued to meet until its closing session 7the #aafcrd71 on ,february #bbnd1 #afdi4 ,here were prepared the famed ,westminster ,confession of ,faith1 and the ,longer and ,shorter ,catechisms so highly prized by the ,presbyterian ,churches of ,scotland1 and during many generations by the ,independents of ,england4 ,here also1 just fifty years later1 assembled the memorable ,commission appointed by ,william ,,iii41 at the suggestion of the ,dean of ,canterbury 7,dr4 ,tillotson71 to devise a basis for a scheme of comprehension in a revision of the ,prayer ,book4 ,in this room the ,new ,testament ,company have held the larger number of their sessions4 ,upon the few occasions on which it was not available the ,company has most frequently met in the ,dean of ,westminster's library4 ,twice it has held its monthly session in the ,college ,hall1 twice in the ,chapter ,library1 and once in ,queen ,anne's ,bounty ,office4 ,the ,jerusalem ,chamber is an oblong room1 somewhat narrow for its length1 measuring about forty feet from north to south1 and about twenty from east to west4 ,down the centre of the room there extends a long table2 and on this table1 in the middle of its eastern side1 is placed the desk of the ,chairman1 ,bishop ,ellicott4 ,facing the ,chairman1 and on the opposite side of the room1 is a small table for the use of the ,secretary4 ,the members of the ,company took their places round the table without any pre-arrangement1 but just as each might find a seat most ready at hand4 ,the force of habit1 however1 soon prevailed1 and most of the members sat constantly in the place which accident or choice had assigned to them4 ,on the ,chairman's right sat the ,prolocutor1 ,dr4 ,bickersteth1 and on his left1 during the sixteen meetings he was spared to attend1 sat the late ,dean of ,canterbury1 ,dr4 ,alford1 who1 to the great sorrow of the ,company1 was so early taken away from their midst4 ,between the ,prolocutor and the northern end of the table were the places usually occupied by the ,bishop of ,salisbury1 the ,bishop of ,st4 ,andrews1 ,dean ,blakesley1 and ,mr4 ,humphry4 ,between the ,chairman and the southern end were the places of the ,archbishop of ,dublin1 ,dr4 ,brown1 ,dr4 ,vaughan1 ,dr4 ,eadie1 and ,canon ,westcott4 ,between the ,secretary's table and the northern end of the long table were the seats of ,canon ,kennedy1 ,dr4 ,angus1 ,archdeacon ,palmer1 and ,dr4 ,hort2 and between the ,secretary's table and the southern end were those of ,dr4 ,vance ,smith1 ,dr4 ,scrivener1 ,dr4 ,lightfoot1 ,dean ,scott1 and ,dr4 ,newth4 ,at the northern end of the table were the places of ,archdeacon ,lee and ,dean ,stanley2 and at the southern end those of ,dr4 ,moulton and ,dr4 ,milligan4 ,as the general rules under which the revision was to be carried out had been carefully prepared1 no need existed for any lengthened discussion of preliminary arrangements1 and the ,company upon its first meeting was able to enter at once upon its work4 ,the members of the ,company had previously been supplied with sheets1 each containing a column of the printed text of the ,authorized ,version1 with a wide margin on either side for suggested emendations--the left hand margin being intended for changes in the ,greek text1 and the right hand margin for those which related to the ,english rendering4 ,upon these sheets each member had entered the result of his own private study of the prescribed portion1 and thus came prepared with well-considered suggestions to submit for the judgment of the ,company4 ,the portion prescribed for the first session was ,matt4 i4 to iv4 ,this portion opening with the genealogy1 the question of the spelling of proper names at once presented itself for decision4 ,it was felt that1 by the twofold forms so often given in the ,authorized ,version to the names of persons and places1 a needless difficulty was set in the way of the simple reader of the ,bible2 and it was agreed that1 while preserving in every case the familiar forms of names which had become thoroughly ,englished1 such as ,john1 ,james1 ,timothy1 ,jacob1 ,solomon1 c41 all ,old ,testament proper names quoted in the ,new should follow the ,hebrew rather than the ,greek or ,latin1 and so appear under the same form in both ,testaments4 ,this question being thus settled1 the ,company proceeded to the actual details of the revision1 and in a surprisingly short time settled down to an established method of procedure4 ,so little need arose for any change in this respect that the account of any one ordinary meeting will serve as a description of all4 ,the ,company assembles at eleven a4m4 ,the meeting is opened by prayer1 the ,chairman reading three collects from the ,prayer ,book1 and closing with the ,lord's ,prayer4 ,the minutes of the last meeting are then read and confirmed4 ,any correspondence or other business that may require consideration is next dealt with4 ,these matters being settled1 the ,chairman invites the ,company to proceed with the revision1 and reads a short passage as given in the ,authorised ,version4 ,the question is then asked whether any textual changes are proposed2 that is1 any readings that differ from the ,greek text as presented in the edition published by ,robert ,stephen in #aeej4 ,if any change is proposed1 the evidence for and against is briefly stated1 and the proposal considered4 ,the duty of stating this evidence is1 by tacit consent1 devolved upon two members of the ,company1 who1 from their previous studies1 are specially entitled to speak with authority upon such questions--,dr4 ,scrivener and ,dr4 ,hort--and who come prepared to enumerate particularly the authorities on either side4 ,dr4 ,scrivener opens up the matter by stating the facts of the case1 and by giving his judgment upon the bearing of the evidence4 ,dr4 ,hort follows1 and mentions any additional matters that may call for notice1 and if differing from ,dr4 ,scrivener's estimate of the weight of the evidence1 gives his reasons1 and states his own view4 ,after discussion1 the vote of the ,company is taken1 and the proposed reading accepted or rejected4 ,the text being thus settled1 the ,chairman asks for proposals on the rendering4 ,any member who has any suggestion on his paper then mentions it1 and this is taken into consideration1 unless some other member state that he has a proposal which refers to an earlier clause of the passage1 in which case his proposal is taken first4 ,the reasons for the proposed emendation are then stated2 briefly1 if it be an obvious correction1 and one which it is likely that many members have noted down2 if it be one less obvious1 or less likely to commend itself at first sight1 the grounds upon which it is based are stated more at length4 ,free discussion then follows1 and after this the vote of the ,company is taken4 ,succeeding suggestions are similarly dealt with1 and then the passage1 as amended1 is read by the ,chairman1 or by the ,secretary4 ,the meeting lasts until six p4m41 an interval of half-an-hour having been allowed for luncheon4 ,the ,company meets every month1 excepting only in the months of ,august and ,september1 for a session of four consecutive days4 ,at a very early period of their labours it became clearly manifest to the ,company that they could only do their work satisfactorily by doing it very thoroughly1 and that no question in any way affecting the sense or the rendering could be passed over because of its seeming unimportance4 ,questions1 whether of text or translation1 which appeared1 when regarded in relation only to the passage under review1 to be too minute to be worthy of serious attention1 became oftentimes invested with a grave importance when other1 and especially parallel1 passages were considered2 and thus proposed changes1 which might otherwise have been dismissed as unnecessary1 claimed for themselves a careful examination4 ,as a necessary result of this determination to make the revision as complete as might be in their power1 the progress made in the work was but slow1 and at the end of the ninth day of meeting not more than #aec verses had been revised1 an average of only seventeen verses a day4 ,thereupon several members of the ,company became alarmed at the probable length of time over which the revision would extend1 and on the tenth day of meeting resolutions were submitted1 that1 8with a view to swifter progress1 the ,company be divided into two sections1 of which one shall proceed with the ,gospels and the other with the ,epistles10 and 8that on the last day of each monthly series of meetings the whole ,company meet together to review the work done by the two separate sections40 ,to these resolutions a full consideration was given1 and with the result of producing an almost unanimous conviction that such a division of the ,company was undesirable4 ,it was felt that the weight of authority attaching to this ,revision1 would1 with many persons1 be largely dependent upon the fact that it represented the united judgment of a considerable number of scholars1 and that the proposed division of the ,company would consequently tend to lessen the claims of the work to the confidence of the public4 ,it was found1 too1 that it would not be possible to make any satisfactory division of the ,company2 and from the varied qualifications of the members1 each felt that it would be a palpable loss to be deprived of the co-operation of any of the rest4 ,it was also exceedingly doubtful whether any saving of time would be secured by the proposed arrangement4 ,the review by the entire ,company of the work done by the separate divisions would1 in very many cases1 reopen discussion2 and questions which had been decided1 perhaps unanimously1 after lengthened debate1 would be debated afresh1 and that1 too1 by those who were less familiar with all the bearings of the question1 and on whose account it would be necessary to give lengthened explanations1 and sometimes to retrace other ground also4 ,the resolutions were consequently withdrawn1 and the conviction became general amongst the members of the ,company that they had no other alternative than to face the probability of a much longer period of labour than any one amongst them had at first anticipated1 and to accept the full responsibilities of the work which had been laid upon them4 ,after this the work steadily proceeded1 and various general questions having been decided as they arose1 the rate of progress became more rapid2 but even then the average did not rise above thirty-five verses a day4 ,in accordance with the rules under which the ,company was acting1 all proposals made at the first revision were decided by simple majorities2 but at the second revision no change from the ,authorized ,version could be accepted unless it were carried by a majority of two to one4 ,though here and there this rule stood in the way of a change which a decided majority of the ,company were of opinion was right1 its action upon the whole was very salutary4 ,at the second revision also the suggestions of the ,american ,revisers came to the help of the ,company4 ,from time to time1 as each successive portion of the first revision was completed1 it had been forwarded to ,america4 ,the ,american ,revisers subjected this to a careful scrutiny1 and in their turn forwarded to ,england their criticisms thereupon4 ,where they approved the changes provisionally made nothing was said2 where they differed they indicated their dissent1 and submitted their own suggestions4 ,in like manner1 in passages where no change had been made1 they either signified their assent by silence1 or expressed their judgment by independent proposals4 ,the first revision of the ,gospel of ,matthew was completed on the thirty-sixth day of meeting1 ,may #bdth1 #ahga2 that of ,mark on the fifty-third day1 ,november #afth1 #ahga2 that of ,luke on the eighty-first day1 ,june #bbnd1 #ahgb2 and that of ,john on the one hundred and third day1 ,february #aith1 #ahgc4 ,the first revision of the ,acts and the ,catholic ,epistles was completed on the one hundred and fifty-second meeting1 ,april #bcrd1 #ahgd4 ,before proceeding to the first revision of the remaining books it was deemed desirable to undertake the second revision of the ,gospels1 and this was completed on the one hundred and eighty-fourth meeting1 ,february #beth1 #ahge4 ,the first revision of the ,pauline ,epistles was then commenced1 and was completed on the two hundred and sixty-second meeting1 ,february #bgth1 #ahgg4 ,the first revision of the ,apocalypse was completed on the two hundred and seventy-third meeting1 ,april #bjth1 #ahgg4 ,it will thus appear that the first revision engaged the ,company during two hundred and forty-one meetings2 that is to say1 during sixty monthly sessions1 or six years of labour4 ,the attendance during this important period of the work maintained so high an average as #afh4 ,it had not been originally intended that at the second revision fresh proposals should be entertained2 but as it was obviously necessary to do this with regard to the ,american suggestions1 it was felt that we ought not to preclude our own members from bringing forward any new proposal that might seem worthy of consideration1 and that we ought not1 for the sake of gaining time1 to fetter ourselves by any rigid rule4 ,the second revision thus became a far more serious business than had been originally contemplated1 and demanded a large measure of time and toil4 ,it was completed on ,december #acth1 #ahgh1 having occupied on the whole ninety-six meetings1 or about two years and a half4 ,by rule #e the 8second0 revision was to be regarded as 8final10 but the course of events rendered this an impossibility1 and so far the rule had to be annulled4 ,in due course the results of the second revision were forwarded to ,america1 and while it indicated the extent to which the ,english ,company had been able to adopt the ,american suggestions--or what was equivalent to this1 some third suggestion that approved itself alike to the judgment of both ,companies--it also necessarily invited a reply upon those points about which there was still a difference of opinion1 and this1 as necessarily1 involved what was to some extent a third revision4 ,the work of a further revision had1 however1 been previously imposed upon the ,company by a resolution of its own1 in which it was agreed that the members should privately read over the version as now revised1 with the view of marking any roughnesses or other blemishes in the ,english phraseology2 and that if it should appear to them that1 without doing any violence to the ,greek1 the ,english might be amended1 the emendations they proposed should be forwarded to the ,secretary1 and by him be duly arranged and printed4 ,to the consideration of the various suggestions so forwarded1 and of those contained in the further communications from ,america1 the ,company devoted thirty-six meetings1 extending from ,february #aath1 #ahgi1 to ,january #bgth1 #ahhj1 with portions of one or two subsequent meetings1 being finally completed on ,march #agth1 #ahhj4 ,although the ,company had endeavoured throughout the whole course of its work to preserve1 as far as the idiom of the ,english language permitted1 uniformity in the rendering of the same ,greek word1 it had not been possible1 when dealing with each passage separately1 to keep in view all the other passages in which any particular word might be found4 ,it was therefore felt to be desirable to reconsider the ,revised ,version with exclusive reference to this single point1 and the pages of a ,greek concordance were assigned in equal portions to different members of the ,company1 who each undertook to examine every passage in which the words falling to his share might occur1 and to mark if in any case unnecessary variations in the ,english had either been introduced or retained4 ,the passages so noted were brought before the notice of the assembled ,company1 and the question was in each case considered whether1 without any injury to the sense1 the rendering of the word under review might be harmonized with that found in other places4 ,this work of harmonizing1 together with the preparation of the preface1 occupied the ,company until ,november #aath1 #ahhj1 on which day1 at five o'clock in the afternoon1 after ten years and five months of labour1 the revision of the ,new ,testament was brought to its close4 ,on the evening of the same day1 ,st4 ,martin's day1 by the kind invitation of ,prebendary ,humphry1 the ,company assembled in the ,church of ,st4 ,martin's-in-the-,fields1 and there united in a special service of prayer and thanksgiving2 of thanksgiving for the happy completion of their labours1 for the spirit of harmony and brotherly affection that had throughout pervaded the meetings of the ,company1 and for the ,divine goodness which had permitted so many with so little interruption to give themselves continuously to this work2 of prayer that all that had been wrong in their spirit or action might be mercifully forgiven1 and that ,he whose glory they had humbly striven to promote might graciously accept this their service1 and deign to use it as an instrument for the good of man1 and the honour of ,his holy name4 ,the total number of meetings of the ,company has been #djg1 and the total number of attendances #f1dbf1abi or an average attendance at each meeting of #aeh members4 ,upon one other point our readers will naturally look for some information4 ,how have the necessary expenses of this undertaking been met8 ,these1 it will readily be seen1 would necessarily be large4 ,so many persons could not come together from various parts of the kingdom--some very distant1 including the extreme north of ,scotland1 and the extreme west of ,cornwall--and remain in ,london for a week in every month1 without a considerable expenditure of money4 ,it was also found necessary for the satisfactory execution of the work that each portion1 from time to time as provisionally completed1 should be set up in type1 and in this way further expenses were entailed4 ,the question of meeting these expenses was at an early period forced upon the attention of the ,company2 for some members before many months had elapsed had been put to serious costs1 and while all willingly gave their time and labour1 as far as they might be able1 without reserve to this important work1 it was felt to be impossible to allow this extra burden to rest upon any1 and the more so as the pressure of it must needs be very unequally distributed4 ,an appeal to the public for help having met with no adequate response1 it was resolved to dispose of the copyright of the work1 in the hope thereby of obtaining sufficient means of meeting the expenses of completing it4 ,several offers from different sources were made to the ,companies2 but ultimately1 for various reasons1 it was deemed best to accede to that made by the ,university ,presses of ,oxford and ,cambridge1 whereby1 in return for the copyright of the ,revised ,version1 the ,chancellors1 ,masters1 and ,scholars of the two ,universities agreed to provide a sum which it was hoped would suffice for the expenses that would be incurred in the prosecution and completion of the work1 and to advance a certain portion of the same from time to time4 ,a draft deed embodying these agreements having been submitted to the ,companies was after some amendments accepted on ,december #ajth1 #ahgb4 ,the agreement with the ,university ,presses binds the two ,companies to a revision of the ,apocrypha1 a work not contemplated in their original undertaking4 ,the ,new ,testament ,company have made arrangements for taking a full share of this revision1 and entered upon the work in ,april last4 ,until this is completed they will not be released from their responsibilities4 ,,appendix4 7,a47 ,,purvey',s ,,prologue ,,to ,,the ,,wycliffite ,,bible 7#achh87 ,,chapter ,,xv4 #acj ,for as much as ,christ saith that the gospel shall be preached in all the world1 and ,david saith of the ,apostles and their preaching1 8the sound of them went out into each land1 and the words of them went out into the ends of the world20 and again ,david saith1 8,the ,lord shall tell in the ,scriptures of peoples and of these princes that were in it20#aca that is1 in holy ,church1 as ,jerome saith on that verse1 8,holy writ is the ,scripture of peoples1 for it is made that all peoples should know it20 and the princes of the ,church that were therein be the apostles that had authority to write holy writ2 for by that same that the ,apostles wrote their ,scriptures by authority and confirming of the ,holy ,ghost1 it is holy ,scripture and faith of ,christian men1 and this dignity hath no man after them1 be he never so holy1 never so cunning1 as ,jerome witnesseth on that verse4 ,also ,christ saith of the ,jews that cried ,hosanna to ,him in the temple1 that though they were still stones should cry2 and by stones ,he understandeth heathen men that worshipped stones for their gods4 ,and we ,englishmen be come of heathen men1 therefore we be understood by these stones that should cry holy writ2 and as ,jews1 interpreted acknowledging#acb1 signify clerks that should make acknowledgment to ,god by repentance of sins and by voice of ,god's praise1 so our lewd 7lay1 or unlearned7 men1 suing 7following7 the corner-stone ,christ1 may be signified by stones that be hard and abiding in the foundation2 for though covetous clerks be wood 7wild1 or mad71 by simony1 heresy1 and many other sins1 and despise and stop holy writ as much as they can1 yet the lewd people cry after holy writ to ken it and keep it with great cost and peril of their life4 ,for these reasons and other1 with common charity to save all men in our realm which ,god would have saved1 a simple creature hath translated the ,bible out of ,latin into ,english4 ,first this simple creature had much travail1 with divers fellows and helpers1 to gather many old ,bibles1 and other doctors and common glosses1 and to make one ,latin ,bible some deal true2 and then to study it anew1 the text with the gloss and other doctors as he might get1 and especially ,lyra on the ,old ,testament1 that helped full much in this work2 the third time to counsel with old grammarians and old divines of hard words and hard sentences1 how they might best be understood and translated2 the fourth time to translate as clearly as he could to the sentence1#acc and to have many good fellows and cunning at the correcting of the translation4 ,first it is to know that the best translating out of ,latin into ,english is to translate after the sentence1 and not only after the words1 so that the sentence be as open1 either opener1 in ,english as in ,latin1 and go not far from the letter2 and if the letter may not be sued 7followed7 in the translating1 let the sentence be ever whole and open1 for the words ought to serve to the intent and sentence1 and else the words be superfluous or false4 ,in translating into ,english many resolutions may make the sentence open1 as an ablative case absolute may be resolved into these three words1 with convenable 7suitable7 verb1 the while1 for if1 as grammarians say1 as thus3 the master reading1 ,i stand1 may be resolved thus1 while the master readeth ,i stand1 or1 if the master readeth1 c41 or1 for the master1 c42 and sometime it would accord well with the sentence to be resolved into when or into afterward1 thus1 when the master read ,i stood1 or1 after the master read ,i stood2 and sometime it may well be resolved into a verb of the same tense as others be in the same clause1 and into this word et2 that is1 and in ,english1 as thus1 arescentibus hominibus prae timore2 that is1 and men should wax dry for dread4 ,also a participle of a present tense or preterite of active voice or passive may be resolved into a verb of the same tense and a conjunction copulative1 as thus1 dicens2 that is1 saying may be resolved thus1 and saith1 or1 that saith2 and this will in many places make the sentence open1 where to ,english it1 after the verb1 would be dark and doubtful4 ,also a relative1 which may be resolved into his antecedent with a conjunction copulative1 as thus1 which runneth1 and he runneth4 ,also when one word is once set in a clause it may be set forth as often as it is understood1 or as often as reason and need ask4 ,and this word autem1 or vero1 may stand for forsooth1 or for but1 and thus ,i use commonly2 and sometime it may stand for and1 as old grammarians say4 ,also when rightful construction is let 7prevented7 by relation1 ,i resolve it openly2 thus where this clause ,dominum formidabunt adversarii ejus should be ,englished thus by the letter1 the ,lord ,his adversaries shall dread1 ,i ,english it thus by resolution1 the adversaries of the ,lord shall dread ,him2 and so of other clauses that be like4 ,at the beginning ,i purposed1 with ,god's help1 to make the sentence as true and open in ,english as it is in ,latin1 or more true and more open than it is in ,latin2 and ,i pray for charity and for common profit of ,christian souls1 that if any wise man find any default of the truth of translation1 let him set in the true sentence and open of holy writ1 but look that he examine truly his ,latin ,bible2 for no doubt he shall find full many ,bibles in ,latin full false1 if he look many1 namely1 new2#acd and the common ,latin ,bibles have more need to be corrected1 as many as ,i have seen in my life than the ,english ,bible late translated4 ,and where the ,hebrew1 by witness of ,jerome1 of ,lyra1 and other expositors discordeth from our ,latin ,bibles1 ,i have set in the margin1 by manner of a gloss1 what the ,hebrew hath1 and how it is understood in some place2 and ,i did this most in the ,psalter1 that of all our books discordeth most from the ,hebrew2 for the church readeth not the ,psalter by the last translation of ,jerome1 out of ,hebrew into ,latin1 but another translation by other men1 that had much less cunning and holiness than ,jerome had2 and in full few books the church readeth the translation of ,jerome1 as it may be proved by the proper originals of ,jerome which he glossed4 ,and where ,i have translated as openly or openlier in ,english as in ,latin1 let wise men deme 7judge7 that know well both languages1 and know well the sentence of holy ,scripture4 ,and whether ,i have done thus or not1 no doubt they that ken well the sentence of holy writ and ,english together1 and will travail with ,god's grace thereabout1 may make the ,bible as true and as open1 yea1 and openlier1 in ,english as in ,latin4 ,and no doubt to a simple man1 with ,god's grace and great travail1 men might expound much openlier and shortlier the ,bible in ,english1 than the old great doctors have expounded it in ,latin1 and much sharplier and groundlier than many late postillators1 or expositors have done4 ,but ,god of ,his great mercy1 give us grace to live well1 and to see the truth in convenable manner1 and acceptable to ,god and ,his people1 and to spell out our time1 be it short1 be it long1 at ,god's ordinance4 ,but some that seem wise and holy say thus1 ,if men now were as holy as ,jerome was1 they might translate out of ,latin into ,english1 as he did out of ,hebrew and out of ,greek into ,latin1 and else they should not translate now1 so they think1 for default of holiness and cunning4 ,though this replication seem colourable1 it hath no good ground1 neither reason1 neither charity2 for why1 7because7 this replication is more against ,saint ,jerome and against the first ,,lxx4 translators1 and against holy church1 than against simple men that translate now into ,english2 for ,saint ,jerome was not so holy as the ,apostles and ,evangelists1 whose books he translated into ,latin1 neither he had so high gifts of the ,holy ,ghost as they had2 and much more the ,,lxx4 translators were not so holy as ,moses and the ,prophets1 and specially ,david2 neither they had so great gifts of ,god as ,moses and the ,prophets had4 ,furthermore1 holy church approveth not only the true translation of mean ,christian men1 but also of open heretics1 that did away mysteries of ,jesus ,christ by guileful translation1 as ,jerome witnesseth in one prologue on ,job1 and in the prologue of ,daniel4 ,much more late the ,church of ,england approve the true and whole translation of simple men1 that would1 for no good on earth1 by their witting and power1 put away the least truth1 yea1 the least letter or tittle of holy writ that beareth substance or charge4 ,and dispute they not 7let them not dispute7 of the holiness of men now living in this deadly life2 for they know not thereon1 and it is reserved only to ,god's doom4 ,if they know any notable default by the translators or their helps1 let them blame the default by charity and mercy1 and let them never damn a thing that may be done lawfully by ,god's law1 as wearing a good cloth for a time1 or riding on a horse for a great journey1 when they wit not wherefore it is done2 for such things may be done of simple men with as great charity and virtue as some that hold themselves great and wise1 can ride in a gilt saddle1 or use cushions and beds and cloths of gold and of silk1 with other vanities of the world4 ,god grant pity1 mercy1 and charity1 and love of common profit1 and put away such foolish dooms 7judgment7 that be against reason and charity4 ,yet worldly clerks ask greatly 7grandly7 what spirit maketh idiots 7laymen7 hardy to translate now the ,bible into ,english1 since the four great doctors durst never do this4 ,this replication is so lewd 7unlearned71 that it needeth none answer but stillness or courteous scorn2 for these great doctors were none ,english men1 neither they were conversant among ,english men1 neither they knew the language of ,english1 but they ceased never till they had holy writ in the mother tongue of their own people4 ,for ,jerome1 that was a ,latin man of birth1 translated the ,bible1 both out of ,hebrew and out of ,greek into ,latin1 and expounded full much thereto2 and ,austin and many more ,latins expounded the ,bible1 for many parts1 in ,latin1 to ,latin men among which they dwelt1 and ,latin was a common language to their people about ,rome1 and beyond and on this half 7side71 as ,english is common to our people1 and yet 7still7 this day the common people in ,italy speaketh ,latin corrupt1 as true men say that have been in ,italy2 and the number of translators out of ,greek into ,latin passeth man's knowing1 as ,austin witnesseth in the ij4 book of ,christian ,teaching1#ace and saith thus3 8,the translators out of ,hebrew into ,greek may be numbered1 but ,latin translators1 or they that translated into ,latin1 may not be numbered in any manner40 ,for in the first times of faith1 each man1 as a ,greek book came to him1 and he seemed to himself to have some cunning of ,greek and ,latin1 was hardy 7bold7 to translate1 and this thing helped more than letted 7hindered7 understanding1 if readers be not negligent1 for why 7because7 the beholding of many books hath showed off or declared some darker sentences4 ,this saith ,austin here4 ,therefore ,grosted 7,grosseteste7 saith that it was ,god's will that diverse men translate1 and that diverse translations be in the church1 where one said darkly1 one other more said openly4 ,lord ,god1 since at the beginning of faith so many men translated into ,latin1 and to great profit of ,latin men1 let one simple creature of ,god translate into ,english for profit of ,englishmen2 for if worldly clerks look well their chronicles and books they shall find that ,bede translated the ,bible1 and expounded much in ,saxon1 that was ,english1 or common language of this land1 in his time2 and not only ,bede1 but also ,king ,alfred that founded ,oxford1 translated in his last days the beginning of the ,psalter into ,saxon1 and would more if he had lived longer4 ,also ,frenchmen1 ,beemers1#acf and ,britons have the ,bible and other books of devotion and of exposition translated in their mother language4 ,why should not ,englishmen have the same in their mother language ,i cannot wit1 no but 7except7 for falseness and negligence of clerks1 or for 7because7 our people is not worthy to have so great grace and gift of ,god in pain 7penalty7 of their old sins4 ,god for his mercy amend these evil causes1 and make our people to have1 and ken1 and keep truly holy writ1 to life and death4 ,but in translating of words equivocal1 that is1 that have many significations under one letter1 may lightly be peril 7there may easily be a danger of mistake72 for ,austin saith in the ij4 book of ,christian ,teaching that if equivocal words be not translated into the sense or understanding of the author it is error1#acg as in that place of the psalm1 the feet of them be swift to shed out blood4 ,the ,greek word is equivocal to sharp and swift1 and he that translated sharp feet erred1 and a book that hath sharp feet is false1 and must be amended1 as that sentence1 unkind young trees shall not give deep roots1 ought to be thus plantings of adultery shall not give deep roots4#ach ,austin saith this there2 therefore a translator hath great need to study well the sentence1 both before and after1 and look that such equivocal words accord with the sentence2 and he hath need to live a clean life1 and be full devout in prayers1 and have not his wit occupied about worldly things1 that the ,holy ,spirit1 author of wisdom1 and cunning1 and truth1 dress him in his work1 and suffer him not for to err4 ,also this word ex signifieth sometime of1 and sometime it signifieth by1 as ,jerome saith2 and this word enim signifieth commonly forsooth1 and1 as ,jerome saith1 it signifieth1 cause thus1 forwhy4 ,and this word secundum is taken for after1 as many men say1 and commonly2 but it signifieth well by or up1 thus by your word1 or up your word4 ,many such adverbs1 conjunctions1 and prepositions be set off one for another1 and at free choice of authors sometime2 and now they should be taken as it accordeth best to the sentence4 ,by this manner1 with good living and great travail1 men may come to true and clear translating and true understanding of holy writ1 seem it never so hard at the beginning4 ,god grant to us all grace to ken well and to keep well holy writ1 and to suffer joyfully some pain for it at the last4 ,amen4 7,b47 ,,tyndale',s ,,prologues4 ,i4 ,,new ,,testament#aci #aebe4 #d,,to4 ,i have here translated1 brethren and sisters1 most dear and tenderly beloved in ,christ1 the ,new ,testament1 for your spiritual edifying1 consolation1 and solace2 exhorting instantly and beseeching those that are better seen in the tongues than ,i1 and that have better gifts of grace to interpret the sense of the ,scripture and meaning of the ,spirit than ,i1 to consider and ponder my labour1 and that with the spirit of meekness2 and if they perceive in any places that ,i have not attained unto the very sense of the tongue1 or meaning of the ,scripture1 or have not given the right ,english word1 that they put to their hands to amend it1 remembering that so is their duty to do4 ,for we have not received the gifts of ,god for ourselves only1 or for to hide them2 but for to bestow them unto the honouring of ,god and ,christ1 and edifying of the congregation1 which is the body of ,christ4 ,the causes that moved me to translate1 ,i thought better that others should imagine1 than that ,i should rehearse them4 ,moreover ,i supposed it superfluous2 for who is so blind as to ask why light should be showed to them that walk in darkness1 where they cannot but stumble1 and where to stumble is the danger of eternal damnation2 other so despiteful that he would envy any man 7,i speak not his brother7 so necessary a thing2 or so bedlam mad to affirm that good is the natural cause of evil1 and darkness to proceed out of light1 and that lying should be grounded in truth and verity1 and not rather clean contrary1 that light destroyeth darkness1 and verity reproveth all manner of lying4 ,after it had pleased ,,god to put in my mind and also to give me grace to translate this fore-rehearsed ,new ,testament into our ,english tongue1 howsoever we have done it1 ,i supposed it very necessary to put you in remembrance of certain points1 which are1 that ye well understand what these words mean3 the ,old ,testament1 the ,new ,testament2 the law1 the gospel2 ,moses1 ,christ2 nature1 grace2 working and believing2 deeds and faith2 lest we ascribe to the one that which belongeth to the other1 and make of ,christ ,moses1 of the gospel the law1 despise grace and rob faith2 and fall from meek learning into idle dispicions2 brawling and scolding about words4 ,the ,old ,testament is a book wherein is written the law of ,god1 and the deeds of them which fulfil them1 and of them also which fulfil them not4 ,the ,new ,testament is a book wherein are contained the promises of ,god1 and the deeds of them which believe them or believe them not4 ,evangelion 7that we call the gospel7 is a ,greek word1 and signifies good1 merry1 glad1 and joyful tidings1 that maketh a man's heart glad1 and maketh him sing1 dance1 and leap for joy3 as when ,david had killed ,goliath the giant1 came glad tidings unto the ,jews1 that their fearful and cruel enemy was slain1 and they delivered out of all danger2 for gladness whereof1 they sung1 danced1 and were joyful4 ,in like manner is the ,evangelion of ,god 7which we call gospel1 and the ,new ,testament7 joyful tidings2 and1 as some say1 a good hearing1 published by the apostles throughout all the world1 of ,christ the right ,david1 how that he hath fought with sin1 with death1 and the devil1 and overcome them3 whereby all men that were in bondage to sin1 wounded with death1 overcome of the devil1 are1 without their own merits or deservings1 loosed1 justified1 restored to life and saved1 brought to liberty and reconciled unto the favour of ,god1 and set at one with him again2 which tidings1 as many as believe1 laud1 praise1 and thank ,god2 are glad1 sing1 and dance for joy4 ,this ,evangelion or gospel 7that is to say1 such joyful tidings7 is called the ,new ,testament2 because that as a man1 when he shall die1 appointeth his goods to be dealt and distributed after his death among them which he nameth to be his heirs2 even so ,christ1 before his death1 commanded and appointed that such ,evangelion1 gospel1 or tidings1 should be declared throughout all the world1 and therewith to give unto all that believe1 all his goods2 that is to say1 his life1 wherewith he swallowed and devoured up death2 his righteousness1 wherewith he banished sin2 his salvation1 wherewith he overcame eternal damnation4 ,now1 can the wretched man1 that knoweth himself to be wrapped in sin1 and in danger to death and hell1 hear no more joyous a thing than such glad and comfortable tidings of ,christ2 so that he cannot but be glad and laugh from the low bottom of his heart1 if he believe that the tidings are true4 ,to strength such faith withal1 ,god promised this his ,evangelion in the ,old ,testament by the prophets1 as ,paul saith 7,rom4 i471 how that he was chosen out to preach ,god's ,evangelion1 which he before had promised by the prophets in the ,scriptures1 that treat of his ,son which was born of the seed of ,david4 ,in ,gen4 iii4 ,god saith to the serpent1 8,i will put hatred between thee and the woman1 between thy seed and her seed1 that self seed shall tread thy head under foot40 ,christ is this woman's seed2 he it is that hath trodden under foot the devil's head2 that is to say1 sin1 death1 hell1 and all his power4 ,for without this seed can no man avoid sin1 death1 hell1 and everlasting damnation4 ,again 7,gen4 xxii471 ,god promised ,abraham1 saying1 8,in thy seed shall all the generations of the earth be blessed40 ,christ is that seed of ,abraham1 saith ,st4 ,paul4 7,gal4 iii47 ,he hath blessed all the world through the gospel4 ,for where ,christ is not1 there remaineth the curse that fell on ,adam as soon as he had sinned1 so that they are in bondage under the condemnation of sin1 death1 and hell4 ,against this curse blesseth now the gospel all the world1 inasmuch as it crieth openly1 saying1 ,whosoever believeth on the ,seed of ,abraham shall be blessed1 that is1 he shall be delivered from sin1 death1 and hell1 and shall henceforth continue righteous1 living and saved for ever1 as ,christ himself saith1 in the eleventh of ,john1 8,he that believeth on me shall never more die40 8,the law10 saith the gospel of ,john in the first chapter1 8was given by ,moses3 but grace and verity by ,jesus ,christ40 ,the law1 whose minister is ,moses1 was given to bring us unto the knowledge of ourselves1 that we might thereby feel and perceive what we are of nature4 ,the law condemneth us and all our deeds1 and is called of ,paul in #b ,cor4 iii4 the ministration of death4 ,for it killeth our consciences and driveth us to desperation1 inasmuch as it requireth of us that which is impossible for us to do4 ,it requireth of us the deeds of a whole man4 ,it requireth perfect love from the low bottom and ground of the heart1 as well in all things which we suffer1 as in the things which we do4 ,but1 saith ,john1 in the same place1 8grace and verity is given us in ,christ10 so that when the law hath passed upon us1 and condemned us to death1 which is its nature to do1 then we have in ,christ grace1 that is to say1 favour1 promises of life1 of mercy1 of pardon1 freely by the merits of ,christ2 and in ,christ have we verity and truth1 in that ,god fulfilleth all his promises to them that believe4 ,therefore is the gospel the ministration of life4 ,paul calleth it in the fore rehearsed place of #b ,cor4 iii4 the ministration of the ,spirit and of righteousness4 ,in the gospel1 when we believe the promises1 we receive the ,spirit of life1 and are justified in the blood of ,christ from all things whereof the law condemned us4 ,of ,christ it is written in the fore rehearsed ,john i4 ,this is ,he of whose abundance1 or fulness1 all we have received1 grace for grace1 or favour for favour4 ,that is to say1 for the favour that ,god hath to his ,son ,christ he giveth unto us his favour and good will1 as a father to his sons4 ,as affirmeth ,paul1 saying1 8,which loved us in his ,beloved before the creation of the world40 ,christ is made ,lord over all1 and is called in scripture ,god's mercy-stool2 whosoever therefore flieth to ,christ can neither hear nor receive of ,god any other thing save mercy4 ,in the ,old ,testament are many promises1 which are nothing else but the ,evangelion or gospel1 to save those that believed them from the vengeance of the law4 ,and in the ,new ,testament is often made mention of the law1 to condemn them which believe not the promises4 ,moreover the law and the gospel may never be separate2 for the gospel and promises serve but for troubled consciences1 which are brought to desperation1 and feel the pains of hell and death under the law1 and are in captivity and bondage under the law4 ,in all my deeds ,i must have the law before me to condemn mine imperfectness4 ,for all that ,i do1 be ,i never so perfect1 is yet damnable sin1 when it is compared to the law1 which requireth the ground and bottom of mine heart4 ,i must therefore have always the law in my sight1 that ,i may be meek in the spirit1 and give ,god all the laud and praise1 ascribing to him all righteousness1 and to myself all unrighteousness and sin4 ,i must also have the promises before mine eyes1 that ,i despair not2 in which promises ,i see the mercy1 favour1 and good will of ,god upon me1 in the blood of his ,son ,christ1 which hath made satisfaction for mine unperfectness1 and fulfilled for me that which ,i could not do4 ,here may ye perceive that two manner of people are sore deceived4 ,first1 they which justify themselves with outward deeds1 in that they abstain outwardly from that which the law forbiddeth1 and do outwardly that which the law commandeth4 ,they compare themselves to open sinners2 and in respect of them justify themselves1 condemning the open sinners4 ,they set a veil on ,moses' face1 and see not how the law requireth love from the bottom of the heart4 ,if they did they would not condemn their neighbours4 8,love hideth the multitude of sins10 saith ,st4 ,peter1 in his first epistle4 ,for whom ,i love from the deep bottom and ground of mine heart1 him condemn ,i not1 neither reckon his sins1 but suffer his weakness and infirmity1 as a mother the weakness of her son1 until he grow up unto a perfect man4 ,those also are deceived which1 without all fear of ,god1 give themselves unto all manner vices with full consent1 and full delectation1 having no respect to the law of ,god 7under whose vengeance they are locked up in captivity71 but say1 ,god is merciful and ,christ died for us1 supposing that such dreaming and imagination is that faith which is so greatly commended in holy scripture4 ,nay1 that is not faith1 but rather a foolish blind opinion springing of their own nature1 and it is not given them of the ,spirit of ,god2 true faith is 7as saith the apostle ,paul7 the gift of ,god1 and is given to sinners after the law hath passed upon them1 and hath brought their consciences unto the brink of desperation1 and sorrows of hell4 ,they that have this right faith1 consent to the law that it is righteous1 and good1 and justify ,god which made the law1 and have delectation in the law1 notwithstanding that they cannot fulfil it1 for their weakness2 and they abhor whatsoever the law forbiddeth1 though they cannot avoid it4 ,and their great sorrow is1 because they cannot fulfil the will of ,god in the law2 and the spirit that is in them crieth to ,god night and day for strength and help1 with tears 7as saith ,paul7 that cannot be expressed with tongue4 ,of which things the belief of our popish 7or of their7 father1 whom they so magnify for his strong faith1 hath none experience at all4 ,the first1 that is to say1 a justiciary1 which justifieth himself with his outward deeds1 consenteth not to the inward law1 neither hath delectation therein3 yea1 he would rather that no such law were4 ,so he justifieth not ,god1 but hateth him as a tyrant1 neither careth he for the promises1 but will with his own strength be saviour of himself2 no wise glorifieth he ,god1 though he seem outward to do4 ,the second1 that is to say1 the sensual person1 as a voluptuous swine1 neither feareth ,god in his law1 neither is thankful to him for his promises and mercy1 which is set forth in ,christ to all them that believe4 ,the right christian man consenteth to the law1 that it is righteous1 and justifieth ,god in the law2 for he affirmeth that ,god is righteous and just1 which is author of the law4 ,he believeth the promises of ,god1 and so justifieth ,god1 judging him true1 and believing that he will fulfil his promises4 ,with the law he condemneth himself and all his deeds1 and giveth all the praise to ,god4 ,he believeth the promises1 and ascribeth all truth to ,god3 thus everywhere justifieth he ,god1 and praiseth ,god4 ,by nature1 through the fall of ,adam are we the children of wrath1 heirs of the vengeance of ,god by birth1 yea1 and from our conception4 ,and we have our fellowship with the devils under the power of darkness and rule of ,satan1 while we are yet in our mothers' wombs2 and though we show not forth the fruits of sin1 yet are we full of the natural poison whereof all sinful deeds spring1 and cannot but sin outwardly1 be we never so young1 if occasion be given2 for our nature is to do sin1 as is the nature of a serpent to sting4 ,and as a serpent yet young1 or yet unbrought forth1 is full of poison1 and cannot afterward 7when the time is come1 and occasion given7 but bring forth the fruits thereof2 and as an adder1 a toad1 or a snake1 is hated of man1 not for the evil that it hath done1 but for the poison that is in it and the hurt which it cannot but do2 so are we hated of ,god for that natural poison which is conceived and born with us before we do any outward evil4 ,and as the evil1 which a venomous worm doeth1 maketh it not a serpent2 but because it is a venomous worm1 therefore doth it evil and poisoneth2 and as the fruit maketh not the tree evil1 but because it is an evil tree1 therefore it bringeth forth evil fruit1 when the season of fruit is2 even so do not our evil deeds make us evil2 but because that of nature we are evil1 therefore we both think and do evil1 and are under vengeance under the law1 convict to eternal damnation by the law1 and are contrary to the will of ,god in all our will1 and in all things consent to the will of the fiend4 ,by grace1 that is to say by favour1 we are plucked out of ,adam1 the ground of all evil1 and graffed in ,christ the root of all goodness4 ,in ,christ1 ,god loved us1 his elect and chosen1 before the world began1 and reserved us unto the knowledge of his ,son and of his holy gospel2 and when the gospel is preached to us1 he openeth our hearts1 and giveth us grace to believe1 and putteth the ,spirit of ,christ in us1 and we know him as our ,father most merciful2 and we consent to the law1 and love it inwardly in our heart1 and desire to fulfil it1 and sorrow because we cannot2 which will 7sin we of frailty never so much7 is sufficient till more strength be given us2 the blood of ,christ hath made satisfaction for the rest2 the blood of ,christ hath obtained all things for us of ,god4 ,christ is our satisfaction1 ,redeemer1 ,deliverer1 ,saviour1 from vengeance and wrath4 ,observe and mark in ,paul's1 ,peter's1 and ,john's epistles1 and in the gospel1 what ,christ is unto us4 ,by faith are we saved only in believing the promises4 ,and though faith be never without love and good works1 yet is our saving imputed neither to love nor unto good works1 but unto faith only4 ,for love and works are under the law1 which requireth perfection1 and the ground and fountain of the heart1 and damneth all imperfectness4 ,now is faith under the promises1 which condemn not2 but give all grace1 mercy1 favour1 and whatsoever is contained in the promises4 ,righteousness is divers2 blind reason imagines many manner of righteousness4 ,there is1 in like manner1 the justifying of ceremonies1 some imagine them their own selves1 some counterfeit other1 saying1 in their blind reason1 ,such holy persons did thus and thus1 and they were holy men1 therefore if ,i do so likewise ,i shall please ,god2 but they have no answer of ,god that that pleaseth4 ,the ,jews seek righteousness in their ceremonies2 which ,god gave unto them1 not to justify1 but to describe and paint ,christ unto them2 of which ,jews testifieth ,paul1 saying how that they have affection to ,god1 but not after knowledge2 for they go about to stablish their own justice1 and are not obedient to the justice of righteousness that cometh of ,god4 ,the cause is verily that except a man cast away his own imagination and reason1 he cannot perceive ,god1 and understand the virtue and power of the blood of ,christ4 ,there is the righteousness of works1 as ,i said before1 when the heart is away and feeleth not how the law is spiritual and cannot be fulfilled1 but from the bottom of the heart1 as the just ministration of all manner of laws1 and the observing of them1 and moral virtues wherein philosophers put their felicity and blessedness--which all are nothing in the sight of ,god4 ,there is a full righteousness1 when the law is fulfilled from the ground of the heart4 ,this had neither ,peter nor ,paul in this life perfectly1 but sighed after it4 ,they were so far forth blessed in ,christ1 that they hungered and thirsted after it4 ,paul had this thirst2 he consented to the law of ,god1 that it ought so to be1 but he found another lust in his members1 contrary to the lust and desire of his mind1 and therefore cried out1 saying1 8,oh1 wretched man that ,i am2 who shall deliver me from this body of death8 thanks be to ,god through ,jesus ,christ40 ,the righteousness that before ,god is of value1 is to believe the promises of ,god1 after the law hath confounded the conscience3 as when the temporal law ofttimes condemneth the thief or murderer1 and bringeth him to execution1 so that he seeth nothing before him but present death1 and then cometh good tidings1 a charter from the king1 and delivereth him4 ,likewise when ,god's law hath brought the sinner into knowledge of himself1 and hath confounded his conscience and opened unto him the wrath and vengeance of ,god2 then cometh good tidings4 ,the ,evangelion showeth unto him the promises of ,god in ,christ1 and how ,christ hath purchased pardon for him1 hath satisfied the law for him1 and appeased the wrath of ,god4 ,and the poor sinner believeth1 laudeth1 and thanketh ,god through ,christ1 and breaketh out into exceeding inward joy and gladness1 for that he hath escaped so great wrath1 so heavy vengeance1 so fearful and so everlasting a death4 ,and he henceforth is an hungered and athirst after more righteousness1 that he might fulfil the law2 and mourneth continually1 commending his weakness unto ,god in the blood of our ,saviour1 ,christ ,jesus4 ,here shall ye see compendiously and plainly set out1 the order and practice of every thing before rehearsed4 ,the fall of ,adam hath made us heirs of the vengeance and wrath of ,god1 and heirs of eternal damnation2 and hath brought us into captivity and bondage under the devil4 ,and the devil is our lord1 and our ruler1 our head1 our governor1 our prince1 yea1 and our god4 ,and our will is locked and knit faster unto the will of the devil1 than could a hundred thousand chains bind a man unto a post4 ,unto the devil's will consent we with all our hearts1 with all our minds1 with all our might1 power1 strength1 will1 and lusts4 ,with what poison1 deadly and venomous hate1 hateth a man his enemy6 ,with how great malice of mind1 inwardly1 do we slay and murder6 ,with what violence and rage1 yea1 and with how fervent lust1 commit we advoutry1 fornication1 and such like uncleanness6 ,with what pleasure and delectation inwardly serveth a glutton his belly6 ,with what diligence deceive we6 ,how busily seek we the things of this world6 ,whatsoever we do1 think1 or imagine1 is abominable in the sight of ,god4 ,and we are as it were asleep in so deep blindness1 that we can neither see nor feel what misery1 thraldom1 and wretchedness we are in1 till ,moses come and wake us1 and publish the law4 ,when we hear the law truly preached1 how that we ought to love and honour ,god with all our strength and might1 from the low bottom of the heart2 and our neighbours1 yea1 our enemies1 as ourselves1 inwardly1 from the ground of the heart1 and do whatsoever ,god biddeth1 and abstain from whatsoever ,god forbiddeth1 with all love and meekness1 with a fervent and a burning lust from the centre of the heart1 then beginneth the conscience to rage against the law1 and against ,god4 ,no sea1 be it ever so great a tempest1 is so unquiet4 ,for it is not possible for a natural man to consent to the law1 that it should be good1 or that ,god should be righteous which maketh the law2 his wit1 reason1 and will being so fast glued1 yea1 nailed and chained unto the will of the devil4 ,neither can any creature loose the bonds1 save the blood of ,christ4 ,this is the captivity and bondage whence ,christ delivered us1 redeemed1 and loosed us4 ,his blood1 his death1 his patience in suffering rebukes and wrongs1 his prayers and fastings1 his meekness and fulfilling of the uttermost point of the law1 appeased the wrath of ,god1 brought the favour of ,god to us again1 obtained that ,god should love us first1 and be our ,father1 and that a merciful ,father1 that will consider our infirmities and weakness1 and will give us his ,spirit again 7which was taken away in the fall of ,adam7 to rule1 govern1 and strength us1 and to break the bonds of ,satan1 wherein we were so straight bound4 ,when ,christ is thuswise preached1 and the promises rehearsed which are contained in the prophets1 in the psalms1 and in divers places of the five books of ,moses1 then the hearts of them which are elect and chosen1 begin to wax soft and melt at the bounteous mercy of ,god1 and kindness shewed of ,christ4 ,for when the ,evangelion is preached1 the ,spirit of ,god entereth into them whom ,god hath ordained and appointed unto eternal life1 and openeth their inward eyes1 and worketh such belief in them4 ,when the woful consciences feel and taste how sweet a thing the bitter death of ,christ is1 and how merciful and loving ,god is through ,christ's purchasing and merits1 they begin to love again1 and to consent to the law of ,god1 that it is good and ought so to be1 and that ,god is righteous which made it2 and they desire to fulfil the law1 even as the sick man desireth to be whole1 and are an hungered and thirst after more righteousness and after more strength to fulfil the law more perfectly4 ,and in all that they do1 or omit and leave undone1 they seek ,god's honour and his will with meekness1 ever condemning the imperfectness of their deeds by the law4 ,now ,christ standeth us in double stead1 and us serveth in two manner wise3 ,first1 he is our ,redeemer1 ,deliverer1 ,reconciler1 ,mediator1 ,intercessor1 ,advocate1 ,attorney1 ,solicitor1 our ,hope1 ,comfort1 ,shield1 ,protection1 ,defender1 ,strength1 ,health1 ,satisfaction1 and ,salvation4 ,his blood1 his death1 all that he ever did1 is ours4 ,and ,christ himself1 with all that he is or can do1 is ours4 ,his blood-shedding and all that he did1 doth me as good service as though ,i myself had done it4 ,and ,god 7as great as he is7 is mine1 with all that he hath1 through ,christ and his purchasing4 ,secondarily1 after that we be overcome with love and kindness1 and now seek to do the will of ,god1 which is a christian man's nature1 then have we ,christ an example to counterfeit1 as saith ,christ himself in ,john1 8,i have given you an example40 ,and in another evangelist he saith1 8,he that will be great among you1 shall be your servant and minister1 as the ,son of man came to minister and not to be ministered unto40 ,and ,paul saith1 8,counterfeit#adj ,christ40 ,and ,peter saith1 8,christ died for you1 and left you an example to follow his steps40 ,whatsoever therefore faith hath received of ,god through ,christ's blood and deserving1 that same must love shed out every whit1 and bestow it on our neighbours unto their profit1 yea1 and that though they be our enemies4 ,by faith we receive of ,god1 and by love we shed out again4 ,and that must we do freely after the example of ,christ1 without any other respect1 save our neighbour's wealth only1 and neither look for reward in the earth1 nor yet in heaven1 for our deeds4 ,but of pure love must we bestow ourselves1 all that we have1 and all that we are able to do1 even on our enemies1 to bring them to ,god1 considering nothing but their wealth1 as ,christ did ours4 ,christ did not his deeds to obtain heaven thereby 7that had been a madness71 heaven was his already1 he was heir thereof1 it was his by inheritance2 but did them freely for our sakes1 considering nothing but our wealth1 and to bring the favour of ,god to us again1 and us to ,god4 ,and no natural son that is his father's heir1 doth his father's will because he would be heir2 that he is already by birth1 his father gave him that ere he was born1 and is loather that he should go without it1 than he himself hath wit to be2 but out of pure love doth he that he doth4 ,and ask him1 ,why he doth any thing that he doth8 he answereth1 ,my father bade1 it is my father's will1 it pleaseth my father4 ,bond servants work for hire1 children for love3 for their father with all he hath1 is theirs already4 ,so a ,christian man doth freely all that he doth1 considereth nothing but the will of ,god1 and his neighbour's wealth only4 ,if ,i live chaste1 ,i do it not to obtain heaven thereby2 for then should ,i do wrong to the blood of ,christ2 ,christ's blood has obtained me that2 ,christ's merits have made me heir thereof2 he is both door and way thitherwards3 neither that ,i look for an higher room in heaven than they shall have which live in wedlock1 other than a whore of the stews1 if she repent2 for that were the pride of ,lucifer1 but freely to wait on the evangelion2 and to serve my brother withal2 even as one hand helpeth another1 or one member another1 because one feeleth another's grief1 and the pain of the one is the pain of the other4 ,whatsoever is done to the least of us 7whether it be good or bad71 it is done to ,christ2 and whatsoever is done to my brother1 if ,i be a christian man1 that same is done to me4 ,neither doth my brother's pain grieve me less than mine own3 neither rejoice ,i less at his welfare than at mine own4 ,if it were not so1 how saith ,paul8 8,let him that rejoiceth1 rejoice in the ,lord10 that is to say1 ,christ1 which is ,lord over all creatures4 ,if my merits obtained me heaven1 or a higher room there1 then had ,i wherein ,i might rejoice besides the ,lord4 ,here see ye the nature of the law1 and the nature of the evangelion4 ,how the law is the key that bindeth and damneth all men1 and the evangelion looseth them again4 ,the law goeth before1 and the evangelion followeth4 ,when a preacher preacheth the law1 he bindeth all consciences2 and when he preacheth the gospel1 he looseth them again4 ,these two salves 7,i mean the law and the gospel7 useth ,god and his preacher to heal and cure sinners withal4 ,the law driveth out the disease and maketh it appear1 and is a sharp salve1 and a fretting corosy1 and killeth the dead flesh1 and looseth and draweth the sores out by the roots1 and all corruption4 ,it pulleth from a man the trust and confidence that he hath in himself1 and in his own works1 merits1 deservings1 and ceremonies4 ,it killeth him1 sendeth him down to hell1 and bringeth him to utter desperation1 and prepareth the way of the ,lord1 as it is written of ,john the ,baptist4 ,for it is not possible that ,christ should come to a man1 as long as he trusteth in himself1 or in any worldly thing4 ,then cometh the evangelion1 a more gentle plaster1 which suppleth and suageth the wounds of the conscience1 and bringeth health4 ,it bringeth the ,spirit of ,god1 which looseth the bonds of ,satan1 and uniteth us to ,god and his will1 through strong faith and fervent love1 with bonds too strong for the devil1 the world1 or any creature to loose them4 ,and the poor and wretched sinner feeleth so great mercy1 love1 and kindness in ,god1 that he is sure in himself how that it is not possible that ,god should forsake him1 or withdraw his mercy and love from him2 and he boldly crieth out with ,paul1 saying1 8,who shall separate us from the love that ,god loveth us withal80 ,that is to say1 ,what shall make me believe that ,god loveth me not8 ,shall tribulation8 anguish8 persecution8 ,shall hunger8 nakedness8 ,shall sword8 ,nay1 8,i am sure that neither death nor life1 neither angel1 neither rule nor power1 neither present things nor things to come1 neither high nor low1 neither any creature1 is able to separate us from the love of ,god1 which is in ,christ ,jesu our ,lord40 ,in all such tribulations1 a christian man perceiveth that ,god is his ,father1 and loveth him even as he loved ,christ when he shed his blood on the cross4 ,finally1 as before1 when ,i was bond to the devil and his will1 ,i wrought all manner of evil and wickedness1 not for hell's sake1 which is the reward of sin1 but because ,i was heir of hell by birth and bondage to the devil1 did ,i evil 7for ,i could none otherwise do2 to do sin was my nature71 even so now1 since ,i am coupled to ,god by ,christ's blood1 do ,i well1 not for heaven's sake1 but because ,i am heir of heaven by grace and ,christ's purchasing1 and have the ,spirit of ,god1 ,i do good freely1 for so is my nature3 as a good tree bringeth forth good fruit1 and an evil tree evil fruit4 ,by the fruits shall ye know what the tree is4 ,a man's deeds declare what he is within1 but make him neither good nor bad4 ,we must first be evil ere we do evil1 as a serpent is first poisonous ere he poison4 ,we must be also good ere we do good1 as the fire must be first hot ere it warm any thing4 ,take an example3 ,as those blind which are cured in the evangelion could not see till ,christ had given them sight1 and deaf could not hear till ,christ had given them hearing1 and those sick could not do the deeds of an whole man till ,christ had given them health2 so can no man do good in his soul till ,christ have loosed him out of the bonds of ,satan1 and have given him wherewith to do good2 yea1 and first have poured into him that self good thing which he sheddeth forth afterwards on other4 ,whatsoever is our own1 is sin4 ,whatsoever is above that1 is ,christ's gift1 purchase1 doing1 and working4 ,he bought it of his ,father dearly with his blood1 yea1 with his most bitter death1 and gave his life for it4 ,whatsoever good thing is in us1 that is given us freely1 without our deserving or merits1 for ,christ's blood's sake4 ,that we desire to follow the will of ,god it is the gift of ,christ's blood4 ,that we now hate the devil's will 7whereunto we were so fast locked1 and could not but love it7 is also the gift of ,christ's blood2 unto whom belongeth the praise and honour of our good deeds1 and not unto us4 ,,ii4 8,,the ,,epistle ,,to ,,the ,,reader0 ,,attached ,,to ,,the #hvo ,,edition1 #aebe4 ,give diligence1 reader1 ,i exhort thee1 that thou come with a pure mind1 and1 as the ,scripture saith1 with a single eye1 unto the words of health and of eternal life2 by the which1 if we repent and believe them1 we are born anew1 created afresh1 and enjoy the fruits of the blood of ,christ1 which blood crieth not for vengeance1 as the blood of ,abel1 but hath purchased life1 love1 favour1 grace1 blessing1 and whatsoever is promised in the ,scriptures to them that believe and obey ,god1 and standeth between us and wrath1 vengeance1 curse1 and whatsoever the ,scripture threateneth against the unbelievers and disobedient1 which resist and consent not in their hearts to the law of ,god that it is right1 holy1 just1 and ought so to be4 ,mark the plain and manifest places of the ,scriptures1 and in doubtful places see thou add no interpretation contrary to them1 but as 7,paul saith7 let all be conformable and agreeing to the faith4 ,note the difference of the law and of the gospel4 ,the one asketh and requireth1 the other pardoneth and forgiveth2 the one threateneth1 the other promiseth all good things to them that set their trust in ,christ only4 ,the gospel signifieth glad tidings1 and is nothing but the promises of good things4 ,all is not gospel that is written in the gospel-book2 for if the law were away thou couldest not know what the gospel meant1 even as thou couldest not see pardon and grace1 except the law rebuked thee and declared unto thee thy sin1 misdeed1 and trespass4 ,repent1 and believe the gospel1 as ,christ saith in the first of ,mark4 ,apply alway the law to thy deeds1 whether thou find lust in thine heart to the law-ward2 and so shalt thou no doubt repent and feel in thyself a certain sorrow1 pain1 and grief to thine heart1 because thou canst not with full lust do the deeds of the law4 ,apply the gospel1 that is to say the promises1 unto the deserving of ,christ1 and to the mercy of ,god and his truth1 and so shalt thou not despair1 but shall feel ,god as a kind and merciful father4 ,and his ,spirit shall dwell in thee1 and shall be strong in thee1 and the promises shall be given thee at the last 7though not by and by1 lest thou shouldest forget thyself and be negligent71 and all threatenings shall be forgiven thee for ,christ's blood's sake1 to whom commit thyself altogether1 without respect either of thy good deeds or of thy bad4 ,them that are learned ,christianly ,i beseech1 forasmuch as ,i am sure1 and my conscience beareth me record1 that of a pure intent1 singly and faithfully1 ,i have interpreted it1 as far forth as ,god gave me the gift of knowledge and understanding1 that the rudeness of the work now at the first time offend them not2 but that they consider how that ,i had no man to counterfeit1 neither was helped with ,english of any that had interpreted the same or such like thing in the ,scripture beforetime4 ,moreover1 even very necessity1 and cumbrance 7,god is record7 above strength1 which ,i will not rehearse1 lest we should seem to boast ourselves1 caused that many things are lacking which necessarily are required4 ,count it as a thing not having his full shape1 but as it were born before his time1 even as a thing begun rather than finished4 ,in time to come 7if ,god have appointed us thereunto7 we will give it his full shape1 and put out if ought be added superflously1 and add to if ought be overseen through negligence1 and will enforce to bring to compendiousness that which is now translated at the length1 and to give light where it is required1 and to seek in certain places more proper ,english1 and with a table to expound the words which are not commonly used1 and show how the ,scripture useth many words which are otherwise understood of the common people1 and to help with a declaration where one tongue taketh not another2 and will endeavour ourselves1 as it were1 to seethe it better1 and to make it more apt for the weak stomachs1 desiring them that are learned and able to remember their duty1 and to help them thereunto1 and to bestow unto the edifying of ,christ's body1 which is the congregation of them that believe1 those gifts which they have received of ,god for the same purpose4 ,the grace that cometh of ,christ be with them that love him4 ,amen4 ,,iii4 ,,the ,,preface ,,to ,,the ,,pentateuch1 #aecj4 ,when ,i had translated the ,new ,testament1 ,i added an ,epistle unto the latter end1 in which ,i desired them that were learned to amend if aught were found amiss4 ,but our malicious and wily hypocrites1 which are so stubborn1 and hard hearted in their wicked abominations1 that it is not possible for them to amend any thing at all 7as we see by daily experience1 when both their livings and doings are rebuked with the truth7 say1 some of them1 that it is impossible to translate the ,scripture into ,english2 some that it is not lawful for the lay people to have it in their mother tongue2 some that it would make them all heretics2 as it would no doubt from many things which they of long time have falsely taught2 and that is the whole cause wherefore they forbid it1 though they other cloaks pretend4 ,and some1 or rather every one1 say that it would make them rise against the king1 whom they themselves 7unto their damnation7 never yet obeyed4 ,and lest the temporal rulers should see their falsehood1 if the ,scripture came to light1 causeth them so to lie4 ,and as for my translation1 in which they affirm unto the lay people1 7as ,i have heard say7 to be ,i wot not how many thousand heresies1 so that it cannot be mended or correct1 they have yet taken so great pain to examine it1 and to compare it unto that they would fain have it1 and to their own imaginations and juggling terms1 and to have somewhat to rail at1 and under that cloak1 to blaspheme the truth1 that they might with as little labour 7as ,i suppose7 have translated the most part of the ,bible4 ,for they which in times past were wont to look on no more ,scripture than they found in their ,duns1 or such like devilish doctrine1 have yet now so narrowly looked on my ,translation1 that there is not so much as one i therein1 if it lack a tittle over his head1 but they have noted it1 and number it unto the ignorant people for an heresy4 ,finally1 in this they be all agreed1--to drive you from the knowledge of the ,scripture1 and that ye shall not have the text thereof in the mother tongue2 and to keep the world still in darkness1 to the intent they might sit in the consciences of the people1 through vain superstition and false doctrine2 to satisfy their filthy lusts1 their proud ambition1 and unsatiable covetousness2 and to exalt their own honour above king and emperor1 yea1 and above ,god himself4 ,a thousand books had they lever to be put forth against their abominable doings and doctrine1 than that the ,scripture should come to light4 ,for as long as they may keep that down1 they will so darken the right way with the mist of their sophistry1 and so tangle them that either rebuke or despise their abominations1 with arguments of philosophy1 and with worldly similitudes and apparent reasons of natural wisdom1 and with wresting the ,scripture unto their own purpose1 clean contrary unto the process1 order1 and meaning of the text2 and so delude them in descanting upon it with allegories2 and amaze them1 expounding it in many senses before the unlearned lay people1 7when it hath but one simple1 literal sense1 whose light the owls cannot abide7 that though thou feel in thine heart1 and art sure1 how that all is false that they say1 yet couldst thou not solve their subtle riddles4 ,which thing only moved me to translate the ,new ,testament4 ,because ,i had perceived by experience1 how that it was impossible to establish the lay people in any truth except the ,scripture were plainly laid before their eyes in their mother tongue1 that they might see the process1 order1 and meaning of the text3 for else1 whatsoever truth is taught them1 these enemies of all truth quench it again1 partly with the smoke of their bottomless pit1 whereof thou readest in ,apocalypse chap4 ix4 that is1 with apparent reasons of sophistry1 and traditions of their own making1 founded without ground of ,scripture1 and partly in juggling with the text1 expounding it in such a sense as is impossible to gather of the text1 if thou see the process1 order1 and meaning thereof4 ,and even in the bishop of ,london's house ,i intended to have done it4 ,for when ,i was so turmoiled in the country where ,i was1 that ,i could no longer dwell there 7the process whereof were too long here to rehearse71 ,i this wise thought in myself--this ,i suffer because the priests of the country be unlearned2 as ,god knoweth1 there are a full ignorant sort which have seen no more ,latin than that they read in their ,portesses and ,missals1 which yet many of them can scarcely read 7except it be ,albertus de ,secretis ,mulierum1 in which yet1 though they be never so sorrily learned1 they pore day and night1 and make notes therein1 and all to teach the midwives as they say2 and ,linwode1 a book of constitutions to gather tythes1 mortuaries1 offerings1 customs1 and other pillage which they call not theirs1 but ,god's part1 and the duty of holy church to discharge their consciences withal3 for they are bound that they shall not diminish1 but increase all things unto the uttermost of their powers71 and1 therefore 7because they are thus unlearned1 thought ,i71 when they come together to the ale-house1 which is their preaching place1 they affirm that my sayings are heresy4 ,and besides that1 they add to of their own heads which ,i never spake1 as the manner is1 to prolong the tale to short the time withal1 and accused me secretly to the chancellor1 and other the bishop's officers4 ,and1 indeed1 when ,i came before the chancellor1 he threatened me grievously1 and reviled me1 and rated me as though ,i had been a dog1 and laid to my charge whereof there could be none accuser brought forth 7as their manner is not to bring forth the accuser71 and yet all the priests of the country were the same day there4 ,as ,i this thought1 the bishop of ,london came to my remembrance1 whom ,erasmus 7whose tongue maketh of little gnats great elephants1 and lifteth up above the stars whosoever giveth him a little exhibition7 praiseth exceedingly1 among other in his ,annotations on the ,new ,testament1 for his great learning4 ,then1 thought ,i1 if ,i might come to this man's service1 ,i were happy4 ,and so ,i gat me to ,london1 and1 through the acquaintance of my master1 came to ,sir ,harry ,gilford1 the king's grace's comptroller1 and brought him an ,oration of ,isocrates1 which ,i had translated out of ,greek into ,english1 and desired him to speak unto my lord of ,london for me1 which he also did as he shewed me1 and willed me to write an epistle to my lord1 and to go to him myself1 which ,i also did1 and delivered my epistle to a servant of his own1 one ,william ,hebilthwayte1 a man of mine old acquaintance4 ,but ,god 7which knoweth what is within hypocrites7 saw that ,i was beguiled1 and that that counsel was not the next way unto my purpose4 ,and therefore he gat me no favour in my lord's sight4 ,whereupon my lord answered me1 his house was full1 he had more than he could well find1 and advised me to seek in ,london1 where he said ,i could not lack a service4 ,and so in ,london ,i abode almost a year1 and marked the course of the world1 and heard our praters 7,i would say our preachers71 how they boasted themselves and their high authority2 and beheld the pomp of our prelates1 and how busy they were1 as they yet are1 to set peace and unity in the world 7though it be not possible for them that walk in darkness to continue long in peace1 for they cannot but either stumble or dash themselves at one thing or another that shall clean unquiet all together7 and saw things whereof ,i defer to speak at this time1 and understood at the last not only that there was no room in my lord of ,london's palace to translate the ,new ,testament1 but also that there was no place to do it in all ,england1 as experience doth now openly declare4 ,under what manner1 therefore1 should ,i now submit this book to be corrected and amended of them1 which can suffer nothing to be well8 ,or what protestation should ,i make in such a matter unto our prelates1 those stubborn ,nimrods which so mightily fight against ,god1 and resist his ,holy ,spirit1 enforcing with all craft and subtlety to quench the light of the everlasting ,testament1 promises1 and appointment made between ,god and us8 and heaping the fierce wrath of ,god upon all princes and rulers2 mocking them with false feigned names of hypocrisy1 and serving their lusts at all points1 and dispensing with them even of the very laws of ,god1 of which ,christ himself testifieth1 ,matt4 v4 8,that not so much as one tittle thereof may perish1 or be broken40 ,and of which the prophet saith1 ,psalm cxviii41 8,thou hast commanded thy laws to be kept0 meod1 that is in ,hebrew1 exceedingly1 with all diligence1 might1 and power2 and have made them so mad with their juggling charms1 and crafty persuasions1 that they think it a full satisfaction for all their wicked lying to torment such as tell them truth1 and to burn the word of their soul's health1 and slay whosoever believe thereon4 ,notwithstanding1 yet ,i submit this book1 and all other that ,i have either made or translated1 or shall in time to come1 7if it be ,god's will that ,i shall further labour in his harvest17 unto all them that submit themselves unto the word of ,god1 to be corrected of them2 yea1 and moreover to be disallowed and also burnt1 if it seem worthy1 when they have examined it with the ,hebrew1 so that they first put forth of their own translating another that is more correct4 7,c47 ,,coverdale',s ,,prologue ,,to ,,his ,,bible ,,of #aece4 ,considering how excellent knowledge and learning an interpreter of scripture ought to have in the tongues1 and pondering also mine own insufficiency therein1 and how weak ,i am to perform the office of a translator1 ,i was the more loath to meddle with this work4 ,notwithstanding1 when ,i considered how great pity it was that we should want it so long1 and called to my remembrance the adversity of them which were not only of ripe knowledge1 but would also with all their hearts have performed that they began1 if they had not had impediment2 considering1 ,i say1 that by reason of their adversity it could not so soon have been brought to an end1 as our most prosperous nation would fain have had it2 these and other reasonable causes considered1 ,i was the more bold to take it in hand4 ,and to help me herein1 ,i have had sundry translations1 not only in ,latin1 but also of the ,dutch interpreters1 whom1 because of their singular gifts and special diligence in the ,bible1 ,i have been the more glad to follow for the most part1 according as ,i was required4 ,but1 to say the truth before ,god1 it was neither my labour nor desire to have this work put in my hand3 nevertheless it grieved me that other nations should be more plenteously provided for with the scripture in their mother-tongue1 than we3 therefore1 when ,i was instantly required1 though ,i could not do so well as ,i would1 ,i thought it yet my duty to do my best1 and that with a good will4 ,whereas some men think now that many translations make division in the faith and in the people of ,god1 that is not so3 for it was never better with the congregation of ,god1 than when every church almost had the ,bible of a sundry translation4 ,among the ,greeks had not ,origen a special translation8 ,had not ,vulgarius one peculiar1 and likewise ,chrysostom8 ,beside the seventy interpreters1 is there not the translation of ,aquila1 of ,theodotio1 of ,symmachus1 and of sundry other8 ,again1 among the ,latin men1 thou findest that every one almost used a special and sundry translation2 for insomuch as every bishop had the knowledge of the tongues1 he gave his diligence to have the ,bible of his own translation4 ,the doctors1 as ,hireneus1 ,cyprianus1 ,tertullian1 ,st4 ,hierome1 ,st4 ,augustine1 ,hilarius1 and ,st4 ,ambrose1 upon divers places of the scripture1 read not the text all alike4 ,therefore ought it not to be taken as evil1 that such men as have understanding now in our time1 exercise themselves in the tongues1 and give their diligence to translate out of one language into another4 ,yea1 we ought rather to give ,god high thanks therefore1 which through his ,spirit stirreth up men's minds so to exercise themselves therein4 ,would ,god it had never been left off after the time of ,st4 ,augustine6 then should we never have come into such blindness and ignorance1 into such errors and delusions4 ,for as soon as the ,bible was cast aside1 and no more put in exercise1 then began every one of his own head to write whatsoever came into his brain1 and that seemed to be good in his own eyes2 and so grew the darkness of men's traditions4 ,and this same is the cause that we have had so many writers1 which seldom made mention of the scripture of the ,bible2 and though they sometime alleged it1 yet was it done so far out of season1 and so wide from the purpose1 that a man may well perceive1 how that they never saw the original4 ,seeing then that this diligent exercise of translating doth so much good and edifieth in other languages1 why should it do evil in ours8 ,doubtless1 like as all nations in the diversity of speeches may know one ,god in the unity of faith1 and be one in love2 even so may divers translations understand one another1 and that in the head articles and ground of our most blessed faith1 though they use sundry words4 ,wherefore methink we have great occasion to give thanks unto ,god1 that he hath opened unto his church the gift of interpretation and of printing1 and that there are now at this time so many1 which with such diligence and faithfulness interpret the scripture1 to the honour of ,god and edifying of his people3 whereas1 like as when many are shooting together1 every one doth his best to be nighest the mark2 and though they cannot all attain thereto1 yet shooteth one nigher than another and hitteth it better than another2 yea1 one can do it better than another4 ,who is now then so unreasonable1 so despiteful1 or envious1 as to abhor him that doth all his diligence to hit the prick1 and to shoot nighest it1 though he miss and come not nighest the mark8 ,ought not such one rather to be commended1 and to be helped forward1 that he may exercise himself the more therein8 ,for the which cause1 according as ,i was desired1 ,i took the more upon me to set forth this special translation1 not as a checker1 not as a reprover1 or despiser of other men's translations1 7for among many as yet ,i have found none without occasion of great thanksgiving unto ,god27 but lowly and faithfully have ,i followed mine interpreters1 and that under correction2 and though ,i have failed anywhere 7as there is no man but he misseth in some thing71 love shall construe all to the best1 without any perverse judgment4 ,there is no man living that can see all things1 neither hath ,god given any man to know everything4 ,one seeth more clearly than another1 one hath more understanding than another1 one can utter a thing better than another2 but no man ought to envy or despise another4 ,he that can do better than another1 should not set him at nought that understandeth less4 ,yea1 he that hath the more understanding ought to remember1 that the same gift is not his1 but ,god's1 and that ,god hath given it him to teach and inform the ignorant4 ,if thou hast knowledge therefore to judge where any fault is made1 ,i doubt not but thou wilt help to amend it1 if love be joined with thy knowledge4 ,howbeit1 whereinsoever ,i can perceive by myself1 or by the information of other1 that ,i have failed 7as it is no wonder71 ,i shall now by the help of ,god overlook it better1 and amend it4 ,now will ,i exhort thee1 whosoever thou be that readest scripture1 if thou find ought therein that thou understandest not1 or that appeareth to be repugnant1 give no temerarious nor hasty judgment thereof2 but ascribe it to thine own ignorance1 not to the scripture3 think that thou understandest it not1 or that it hath some other meaning1 or that it is haply overseen of the interpreters1 or wrong printed4 ,again1 it shall greatly help thee to understand scripture1 if thou mark not only what is spoken or written1 but of whom1 and unto whom1 with what words1 at what time1 where1 to what intent1 with what circumstance1 considering what goeth before1 and what followeth after4 ,for there be some things which are done and written1 to the intent that we should do likewise2 as when ,abraham believeth ,god1 is obedient unto his word1 and defendeth ,loth his kinsman from violent wrong4 ,there be some things also which are written1 to the intent that we should eschew such like2 as when ,david lieth with ,uria's wife1 and causeth him to be slain4 ,therefore1 ,i say1 when thou readest scripture1 be wise and circumspect2 and when thou comest to such strange manners of speaking and dark sentences1 to such parables and similitudes1 to such dreams or visions1 as are hid from thy understanding1 commit them unto ,god1 or to the gift of his ,holy ,spirit in them that are better learned than thou4 ,as for the commendation of ,god's holy scripture1 ,i would fain magnify it1 as it is worthy1 but ,i am far unsufficient thereto3 and therefore ,i thought it better for me to hold my tongue1 than with few words to praise or commend it2 exhorting thee1 most dear reader1 so to love it1 so to cleave unto it1 and so to follow it in thy daily conversation1 that other men1 seeing thy good works and the fruits of the ,holy ,ghost in thee1 may praise the ,father of heaven1 and give his word a good report3 for to live after the law of ,god1 and to lead a virtuous conversation1 is the greatest praise that thou canst give unto his doctrine4 ,but as touching the evil report and dispraise that the good word of ,god hath by the corrupt and evil conversation of some that daily hear it and profess it outwardly with their mouths1 ,i exhort thee1 most dear reader1 let not that offend thee1 nor withdraw thy mind from the love of the truth1 neither move thee to be partaker in like unthankfulness2 but seeing the light is come into the world1 love no more the works of darkness1 receive not the grace of ,god in vain4 ,call to thy remembrance1 how loving and merciful ,god is unto thee1 how kindly and fatherly he helpeth thee in all trouble1 teacheth thine ignorance1 healeth thee in all thy sickness1 forgiveth thee all thy sins1 feedeth thee1 giveth thee drink1 helpeth thee out of prison1 nourisheth thee in strange countries1 careth for thee1 and seeth that thou want nothing4 ,call this to mind1 ,i say1 and that earnestly1 and consider how thou hast received of ,god all these benefits1 yea1 and many more than thou canst desire2 how thou art bound likewise to shew thyself unto thy neighbour1 as far as thou canst1 to teach him1 if he be ignorant1 to help him in all his trouble1 to heal his sickness1 to forgive him his offences1 and that heartily1 to feed him1 to cherish him1 to care for him1 and to see that he want nothing4 ,and on this behalf ,i beseek thee1 thou that hast the riches of this world1 and lovest ,god with thy heart1 to lift up thine eyes1 and see how great a multitude of poor people run through every town2 have pity on thine own flesh1 help them with a good heart1 and do with thy counsel all that ever thou canst1 that this unshamefaced begging may be put down1 that these idle folks may be set to labour1 and that such as are not able to get their living may be provided for4 ,at the least1 thou that art of counsel with such as are in authority1 give them some occasion to cast their heads together1 and to make provision for the poor4 ,put them in remembrance of those noble cities in other countries1 that by the authority of their princes have so richly and well provided for their poor people1 to the great shame and dishonesty of us1 if we likewise1 receiving the word of ,god1 shew not such like fruits thereof4 ,would ,god that those men1 whose office is to maintain the commonwealth1 were as diligent in this cause1 as they are in other6 ,let us beware bytimes1 for after unthankfulness there followeth ever a plague4 ,the merciful hand of ,god be with us1 and defend us1 that we be not partakers thereof6 ,go to now1 most dear reader1 and sit thee down at the ,lord's feet1 and read his words1 and1 as ,moses teacheth the ,jews1 take them into thine heart1 and let thy talking and communication be of them1 when thou sittest in thine house1 or goest by the way1 when thou liest down1 and when thou risest up4 ,and1 above all things1 fashion thy life and conversation according to the doctrine of the ,holy ,ghost therein1 that thou mayest be partaker of the good promises of ,god in the ,bible1 and be heir of his blessing in ,christ3 in whom if thou put thy trust1 and be an unfeigned reader or hearer of his word with thy heart1 thou shalt find sweetness therein1 and spy wondrous things1 to thy understanding1 to the avoiding of all seditious sects1 to the abhorring of thy old sinful life1 and to the stablishing of thy godly conversation4 ,in the first book of ,moses1 called ,genesis1 thou mayest learn to know the almighty power of ,god in creating all of nought1 his infinite wisdom in ordering the same1 his righteousness in punishing the ungodly1 his love and fatherly mercy in comforting the righteous with his promise1 c4 ,in the second book1 called ,exodus1 we see the mighty arm of ,god in delivering his people from so great bondage out of ,egypt1 and what provision he maketh for them in the wilderness2 how he teacheth them with his wholesome word1 and how the tabernacle was made and set up4 ,in the third book1 called ,leviticus1 is declared1 what sacrifices the priests and ,levites used1 and what their office and ministration was4 ,in the fourth book1 called ,numerus1 is declared1 how the people are numbered and mustered1 how the captains are chosen after the tribes and kindreds1 how they went forth to the battle1 how they pitched their tents1 and how they brake up4 ,the fifth book1 called ,deuteronomium1 sheweth how that ,moses1 now being old1 rehearseth the law of ,god unto the people1 putteth them in remembrance again of all the wonders and benefices that ,god had shewed for them1 and exhorteth them earnestly to love the ,lord their ,god1 to cleave unto him1 to put their trust in him1 and to hearken unto his voice4 ,after the death of ,moses doth ,josua bring the people into the land of promise1 where ,god doth wonderous things for his people by ,josua1 which distributeth the land unto them1 unto every tribe their possession4 ,but in their wealth they forgat the goodness of ,god1 so that ofttimes he gave them over into the hand of their enemies4 ,nevertheless1 whensoever they called faithfully upon him1 and converted1 he delivered them again1 as the book of ,judges declareth4 ,in the books of the ,kings is described the regiment of good and evil princes1 and how the decay of all nations cometh by evil kings4 ,for in ,jeroboam thou seest what mischief1 what idolatry1 and such like abomination followeth1 when the king is a maintainer of false doctrine1 and causeth the people to sin against ,god2 which falling away from ,god's word increased so sore among them1 that it was the cause of all their sorrow and misery1 and the very occasion why ,israel first1 and then ,juda1 were carried away into captivity4 ,again1 in ,josaphat1 in ,ezechias1 and in ,josias1 thou seest the nature of a virtuous king4 ,he putteth down the houses of idolatry1 seeth that his priests teach nothing but the law of ,god1 commandeth his lords to go with them1 and to see that they teach the people4 ,in these kings1 ,i say1 thou seest the condition of a true defender of the faith2 for he spareth neither cost nor labour to maintain the ,laws of ,god1 to seek the wealth and prosperity of his people1 and to root out the wicked4 ,and where such a prince is1 thou seest again1 how ,god defendeth him and his people1 though he have never so many enemies4 ,thus went it with them in the old time1 and even after the same manner goeth it now with us4 ,god be praised therefore1 and grant us of his fatherly mercy that we be not unthankful2 lest where he now giveth us a ,josaphat1 an ,ezechias1 yea1 a very ,josias1 he send us a ,pharao1 a ,jeroboam1 or an ,achab6 ,in the two first books of ,esdras1 and in ,hester1 thou seest the deliverance of the people1 which though they were but few1 yet is it unto us all a special comfort2 forsomuch as ,god is not forgetful of his promise1 but bringeth them out of captivity1 according as he had told them before4 ,in the book of ,job we learn comfort and patience1 in that ,god not only punisheth the wicked1 but proveth and trieth the just and righteous 7howbeit there is no man innocent in his sight17 by divers troubles in this life2 declaring thereby1 that they are not his bastards1 but his dear sons1 and that he loveth them4 ,in the ,psalms we learn how to resort only unto ,god in all our troubles1 to seek help at him1 to call only upon him1 to settle our minds by patience1 and how we ought in prosperity to be thankful unto him4 ,the ,proverbs and the ,preacher of ,solomon teach us wisdom1 to know ,god1 our own selves1 and the world1 and how vain all things are1 save only to cleave unto ,god4 ,as for the doctrine of the ,prophets1 what is it else1 but an earnest exhortation to eschew sin1 and to turn unto ,god2 a faithful promise of the mercy and pardon of ,god unto all them that turn unto him1 and a threatening of his wrath to the ungodly8 saving that here and there they prophesy also manifestly of ,christ1 of the expulsion of the ,jews1 and calling of the heathen4 ,thus much thought ,i to speak of the old ,testament1 wherein ,almighty ,god openeth unto us his mighty power1 his wisdom1 his loving mercy and righteousness3 for the which cause it ought of no man to be abhorred1 despised1 or lightly regarded1 as though it were an old scripture that nothing belonged unto us1 or that now were to be refused4 ,for it is ,god's true scripture and testimony1 which the ,lord ,jesus commandeth the ,jews to search4 ,whosoever believeth not the scripture1 believeth not ,christ2 and whoso refuseth it1 refuseth ,god also4 ,the new ,testament1 or ,gospel1 is a manifest and clear testimony of ,christ1 how ,god performeth his oath and promise made in the old ,testament1 how the new is declared and included in the old1 and the old fulfilled and verified in the new4 ,now whereas the most famous interpreters of all give sundry judgments of the text2 so far as it is done by the spirit of knowledge in the ,holy ,ghost1 methink no man should be offended thereat1 for they refer their doings in meekness to the spirit of truth in the congregation of ,god3 and sure ,i am1 that there cometh more knowledge and understanding of the scripture by their sundry translations1 than by all the glosses of our sophistical doctors4 ,for that one interpreteth something obscurely in one place1 the same translateth another1 or else he himself1 more manifestly by a more plain vocable of the same meaning in another place4 ,be not thou offended1 therefore1 good reader1 though one call a scribe that another calleth a lawyer2 or elders1 that another calleth father and mother2 or repentance1 that another calleth penance or amendment4 ,for if thou be not deceived by men's traditions1 thou shalt find no more diversity between these terms1 than between fourpence and a groat4 ,and this manner have ,i used in my translation1 calling it in some place penance1 that in another place ,i call repentance2 and that not only because the interpreters have done so before me1 but that the adversaries of the truth may see1 how that we abhor not this word penance1 as they untruly report of us1 no more than the interpreters of ,latin abhor pnitere1 when they read resipiscere4 ,only our heart's desire unto ,god is1 that his people be not blinded in their understanding1 lest they believe penance to be ought save a very repentance1 amendment1 or conversion unto ,god1 and to be an unfeigned new creature in ,christ1 and to live according to his law4 ,for else shall they fall into the old blasphemy of ,christ's blood1 and believe that they themselves are able to make satisfaction unto ,god for their own sins3 from the which error ,god of his mercy and plenteous goodness preserve all his6 ,now to conclude3 forsomuch as all the scripture is written for thy doctrine and ensample1 it shall be necessary for thee to take hold upon it while it is offered thee1 yea1 and with ten hands thankfully to receive it4 ,and though it be not worthily ministered unto thee in this translation1 by reason of my rudeness2 yet if thou be fervent in thy prayer1 ,god shall not only send it thee in a better shape by the ministration of other that began it afore1 but shall also move the hearts of them which as yet meddled not withal1 to take it in hand1 and to bestow the gift of their understanding thereon1 as well in our language1 as other famous interpreters do in other languages4 ,and ,i pray ,god1 that through my poor ministration herein ,i may give them that can do better some occasion so to do2 exhorting thee1 most dear reader1 in the mean while on ,god's behalf1 if thou be a head1 a judge1 or ruler of the people1 that thou let not the book of this law depart out of thy mouth1 but exercise thyself therein both day and night1 and be ever reading in it as long as thou livest3 that thou mayest learn to fear the ,lord thy ,god1 and not to turn aside from the commandment1 neither to the right hand nor to the left2 lest thou be a knower of persons in judgment1 and wrest the right of the stranger1 of the fatherless1 or of the widow1 and so the curse to come upon thee4 ,but what office so ever thou hast1 wait upon it1 and execute it to the maintenance of peace1 to the wealth of thy people1 defending the laws of ,god and the lovers thereof1 and to the destruction of the wicked4 ,if thou be a preacher1 and hast the oversight of the flock of ,christ1 awake and feed ,christ's sheep with a good heart1 and spare no labour to do them good3 seek not thyself1 and beware of filthy lucre2 but be unto the flock an ensample in the word1 in conversation1 in love1 in ferventness of the spirit1 and be ever reading1 exhorting1 and teaching in ,god's word1 that the people of ,god run not unto other doctrines1 and lest thou thyself1 when thou shouldest teach other1 be found ignorant therein4 ,and rather than thou wouldest teach the people any other thing than ,god's word1 take the book in thine hand1 and read the words1 even as they stand therein2 for it is no shame so to do1 it is more shame to make a lie4 ,this ,i say for such as are not yet expert in the scripture2 for ,i reprove no preaching without the book1 as long as they say the truth4 ,if thou be a man that hast wife and children1 first love thy wife1 according to the ensample of the love wherewith ,christ loved the congregation2 and remember that so doing thou lovest even thyself3 if thou hate her1 thou hatest thine own flesh2 if thou cherish her and make much of her1 thou cherishest and makest much of thyself2 for she is bone of thy bones1 and flesh of thy flesh4 ,and whosoever thou be that hast children1 bring them up in the nurture and information of the ,lord4 ,and if thou be ignorant1 or art otherwise occupied lawfully1 that thou canst not teach them thyself1 then be even as diligent to seek a good master for thy children1 as thou wast to seek a mother to bear them2 for there lieth as great weight in the one1 as in the other4 ,yea1 better it were for them to be unborn1 than not to fear ,god1 or to be evil brought up3 which thing 7,i mean bringing up well of children7 if it be diligently looked to1 it is the upholding of all commonwealths2 and the negligence of the same1 the very decay of all realms4 ,finally1 whosoever thou be1 take these words of scripture into thy heart1 and be not only an outward hearer1 but a doer thereafter1 and practise thyself therein2 that thou mayest feel in thine heart the sweet promises thereof for thy consolation in all trouble1 and for the sure stablishing of thy hope in ,christ2 and have ever an eye to the words of scripture1 that if thou be a teacher of other1 thou mayest be within the bounds of the truth2 or at the least1 though thou be but an hearer or reader of another man's doings1 thou mayest yet have knowledge to judge all spirits1 and be free from every error1 to the utter destruction of all seditious sects and strange doctrines2 that the holy scripture may have free passage1 and be had in reputation1 to the worship of the author thereof1 which is even ,god himself2 to whom for his most blessed word be glory and dominion now and ever6 ,amen4 7,d47 ,,preface ,,to ,,the ,,genevan ,,bible1 #aefj4 ,to our ,beloved in the ,lord1 ,the ,brethren of ,england1 ,scotland1 ,ireland1 c4 ,grace1 mercie1 and peace1 through ,christ ,jesus4#ada ,besides the manifold and continuall benefits which ,almightie ,god bestowed upon us1 both corporall and spirituall1 we are especially bound 7deare brethren7 to giue him thankes without ceasing for his great grace and vnspeakable mercies1 in that it hath pleased him to call vs vnto this marueilous light of his ,gospell1 and mercifully to regarde vs after so horrible backesliding and falling away from ,christ to ,antichrist1 from light to darknesse1 from the liuing ,god to dumme and dead idoles1 and that after so cruell murther of ,god's saints1 as alas1 hath bene among vs1 wee are not altogether cast off1 as were the ,israelites1 and many others for the like or not so manifest wickednesse1 but receiued againe to grace with most evident signes and tokens of ,god's especiall loue and fauour4 ,to the intent therefore that wee may not be vnmindfull of these great mercies1 but seeke by all meanes 7according to our duetie7 to bee thankefull for the same1 it behoueth vs so to walke in his feare and loue1 that all the dayes of our life we may procure the glorie of his holy name4 ,nowe forasmuch as this thing chiefely is atteined by the knowledge and practising of the worde of ,god 7which is the light to our paths1 the keye of the kingdome of heauen1 our comfort in affliction1 our shielde and sworde against ,satan1 the schoole of all wisdome1 the glasse wherein we beholde ,gods face1 the testimonie of his fauour1 and the onely foode and nourishment of our soules71 wee thought that wee coulde bestowe our labours and studie in nothing which coulde be more acceptable to ,god and comfortable to his ,church then in the translating of the holy ,scriptures into our natiue tongue3 the which thing albeit that diuers heretofore haue endeuoured to atchieue2 yet considering the infancie of those times and imperfect knowledge of the tongues in respect of this ripe age and cleere light which ,god hath now reueiled1 ye translations required greatly to be perused and reformed4 ,not that we vendicate anything to our selues aboue the least of our brethren 7for ,god knoweth with what feare and trembling we haue bene for the space of two yeeres and more day and night occupied herein71 but being earnestly desired and by diuers1 whose learning and godlinesse we reuerence1 exhorted and also encouraged by the ready willes of such1 whose hearts ,god likewise touched1 not to spare any charges for the furtherance of such a benefite and fauour of ,god towarde his ,church 7though the time then was most dangerous1 and the persecution sharpe and furious71 we submitted our selues at length to their godly judgements1 and seeing the great opportunitie and occasions1 which ,god presented unto vs in his ,church1 by reason of so many godlie and learned men3 and such diuersities of translations in diuers tongues1 we vndertooke this great and wonderfull worke 7with all reuerence1 as in the presence of ,god1 as intreating the word of ,god1 whereunto we thinke our selues vnsufficient7 which now ,god accepting according to his diuine prouidence and mercie hath directed to a most prosperous ende4 ,and this we may with good conscience protest that we haue in euery point and worde1 according to the measure of that knowledge which it pleased ,almightie ,god to giue vs1 faithfully rendred the text1 and in all hard places most sincerely expounded the same4 ,for ,god is our witnesse that we haue by all meanes indeuoured to set foorth the puritie of the word and the right sense of the holy ,ghost for the edifying of the brethren in faith and charitie4 ,nowe as we have chiefely obserued the sence1 and laboured allwayes to restore it to all integritie1 so haue we most reuerently kept the proprietie of the wordes1 considering that the ,apostles who spake and wrote to the ,gentiles in the ,greeke tongue1 rather constrained them to the liuely phrase of the ,ebrew1 then enterprised farre by mollifying their language to speake as the ,gentiles did4 ,and for this and other causes wee haue in many places reserued the ,ebrew phrases1 notwithstanding that they may seeme somewhat hard in their eares that are not well practised and also delite in the sweet sounding phrases of the holy ,scriptures4 ,yet least eyther the simple should be discouraged1 or the malicious haue any occasion of just cauilation1 seeing some translations reade after one sort1 and some after another1 whereas all may serue to good purpose and edification1 we haue in the margent noted that diuersitie of speech or reading which may also seeme agreeable to the minde of the holy ,ghost1 and proper for our language with this marke4 ,againe1 whereas the ,ebrewe speache seemed hardly to agree with ours we haue noted it in the margent after this sort 1 vsing that which was more intelligible4 ,and albeit that many of the ,ebrewe names be altered from the olde text1 and restored to the true writing and first originall1 whereof they haue their signification1 yet in the vsuall names litle is changed for feare of troubling the simple readers4 ,moreover1 whereas the necessitie of the sentence required any thing to be added 7for such is the grace and proprietie of the ,ebrew and ,greeke tongues that it cannot1 but either by circumlocution1 or by adding the verbe or some word1 be understood of them that are not well practised therein7 wee haue put in the text with an other kinde of letter that it may easily be discerned from the common letter4#adb ,as touching the diuision of the verses wee haue followed the ,ebrewe examples1 which haue so euen from the beginning distinguished them4 ,which thing as it is most profitable for memorie1 so doeth it agree with the best translations1 and is most easie to finde out both by the best ,concordances1 and also by the quotations which we haue diligently herein perused and set foorth by this 994 ,besides this the principall matters are noted by this marke 4 ,yea1 and the arguments both for the booke and for the chapters with the number of the verse are added1 that by all meanes the reader might be holpen4 ,for the which cause also we haue set ouer the head of every page some notable worde or sentence which may greatly further as well for memorie as for the chiefe point of the page4 ,and considering howe hard a thing it is to vnderstand the holy ,scriptures1 and what errors1 sectes1 and heresies growe dayly for lacke of the true knowledge thereof1 and howe many are discouraged 7as they pretend7 because they cannot atteine to the true and simple meaning of the same1 we haue also indeuoured both by the diligent reading of the best commentaries1 and also by the conference with the godly and learned brethren1 to gather briefe annotations upon all the hard places1 as well for the vnderstanding of such wordes as are obscure1 and for the declaration of the text1 as for the application of the same1 as may most appertaine to ,god's glory and the edification of his ,church4 ,furthermore1 whereas certaine places in the bookes of ,moses1 of the ,kings1 and ,ezekiel1 seemed so darke that by no description they could be made easie to the simple reader1 wee have so set them foorth with figures and notes for the full declaration thereof1 that they which cannot by judgement1 being holpen by the letters a1 b1 c1 c41 atteine thereunto1 yet by the perspective and1 as it were1 by the eye1 may sufficiently knowe the true meaning of all such places4 ,whereunto also wee haue added certaine maps of ,cosmographie which necessarily serue for the perfect vnderstanding and memorie of diuers places and countries1 partly described and partly by occasion touched both in the olde and newe ,testament4 ,finally1 that nothing might lacke which might be bought by labours1 for the increase of knowledge and furtherance of ,god's glorie1 we have adioyned two most profitable ,tables1 the one seruing for the interpretation of the ,ebrew names1 and the other conteining all the chiefe and principall matters of the whole ,bible1 so that nothing 7as wee trust7 that any could iustlie desire is omitted4 ,therefore as brethren that are partakers of the same hope and saluation with us1 wee beseeche you that this rich pearle and inestimable treasure may not be offred in vaine1 but as sent from ,god to the people of ,god1 for the increase of his kingdome1 the comfort of his ,church1 and discharge of our conscience1 whom it hath pleased him to raise vp for this purpose1 so you woulde willingly receive the worde of ,god1 earnestly studie it1 and in all your life practise it1 that you may nowe appeare in deede to bee the people of ,god1 not walking any more according to this worlde1 but in the fruits of the ,spirit1 that ,god in vs may bee fully glorified through ,christ ,jesus our ,lorde who liueth and reigneth for euer4 ,amen4 ,from ,geneva1 #ajth ,april1 #aefj4 7,e47 ,,the ,,preface ,,to ,,the ,,bishops' ,,bible1 #aefh4 ,a ,preface into the ,byble folowyng4 ,of all the sentences pronounced by our ,sauiour ,christe in his whole doctrine1 none is more serious or more worthy to be borne in remembraunce1 than that which he spake openly in his ,gospell1 saying3 ,sidenote3 ,john v4 ,scrutamini scripturas1 quia vos putatis in ipsis vitam eternam habere1 et ill sunt qu testimonium perhibent de me4 ,search ye the scriptures1 for in them ye think to have eternall lyfe1 and those they be which beare witnes of me4 ,these wordes were first spoken vnto the ,jewes by our ,sauiour1 but by hym in his doctrine ment to all3 for they concerne all1 of what nation1 of what tongue1 of what profession soeuer any man be4 ,for to all belongeth it to be called vnto eternal life1 so many as by the witnes of the scriptures desire to find eternall life4 ,no man1 woman1 or chylde1 is excluded from this saluation1 and therefore to euery of them is this spoke proportionally yet1 and in their degrees and ages1 and as the reason and congruitie of their vocation may aske4 ,for not so lyeth it in charge to the worldly artificer to searche1 or to any other priuate man so exquisitely to studie1 as it lyeth to the charge of the publike teacher to searche in the scriptures1 to be the more able to walke in the house of ,god ,sidenote3 #a ,tim4 iii4 7which is the church of the lyuyng ,god1 the pyller and ground of truth7 to the establishing of the true doctrine of the same1 and to the impugnyng of the false4 ,and though whatsoever difference there may be betwixt the preacher in office1 and the auditor in his vocation1 yet to both it is said1 ,search ye the scriptures1 whereby ye may fynde eternall lyfe1 and gather witnesses of that saluation which is in ,christe ,jesus our ,lorde4 ,sidenote3 ,deut4 xvii4 ,for although the prophete of ,god ,moyses1 byddeth the kyng when he is once set in the throne of his kingdome1 to describe before his eyes the volume of ,god's lawe1 according to the example whiche he shoulde receaue of the priestes of the liuiticall tribe1 to haue it with him1 and to reade it in all the dayes of his life1 to thende#adc that he might learne to feare the ,lorde his ,god1 and to observe his lawes1 that his heart be not aduanced in pryde ouer his brethren1 not to swarue eyther on the ryght hande or on the left3 yet the reason of this precept for that it concerneth all men1 may reasonably be thought to be commanded to all men1 and all men may take it to be spoken to them selfe in their degree4 ,sidenote3 ,iosue i4 ,though almightie ,god him selfe spake to his captayne ,iosue in precise wordes1 ,non recedat volumen legis huius ab ore tuo sed meditaberis in eo diebus ac noctibus1 c4 ,let not the volume of this booke depart from thy mouth1 but muse therein both dayes and nyghtes1 that thou mayest kepe and perfourme all thinges which be written in it1 that thou mayest direct well thy way and vnderstande the same3 yet as well spake almightie ,god this precept to all his people in the directions of their wayes to himwarde1 as he ment it to ,iosue3 ,sidenote3 ,peter v4 ,ephe4 vi4 ,for that he hath care of all1 he accepteth no man's person1 his wyll is that all men should he saued1 ,sidenote3 #a ,tim4 ii4 ,ioh xiiii4 his wyll is that all men should come to the way of trueth4 ,howe coulde this be more conueniently declared by ,god to man1 then when ,christe his welbeloued sonne our most louing sauiour1 the way1 the trueth1 and the lyfe of vs all1 dyd byd vs openly ,search the scriptures1 assuring vs herein to finde eternall life1 to finde full testification of all his graces and benefites towardes vs in the treasure thereof4 ,therefore it is most conuenient that we shoulde all suppose that ,christe spake to vs all in this his precept of searching the scriptures4 ,if this celestiall doctour 7so aucthorised by the father of heauen1 and commaunded ,sidenote3 ,matt4 xvii4 as his only sonne1 to be hearde of vs all7 biddeth vs busily to ,search the scriptures3 of what spirite can it proceede to forbid the reading and studying of the scriptures8 ,if the grosse ,iewes vsed to reade them1 as some men thinke that our sauiour ,christ dyd shew by such kynd of speaking1 their vsage1 with their opinion they had therin to finde eternall lyfe1 and were not of ,christe rebuked1 or disproued1 either for their searching1 or for the opinion they had1 howe superstitiously or superficially soeuer some of them vsed to expende the scriptures2 ,how muche more vnaduisedly do suche as bost them selfe to be either ,christe's vicars1 or be of his garde1 to lothe christen men from reading1 by their couert slaunderous reproches of the scriptures1 or in their aucthoritie by lawe or statute to contract this libertie of studiyng the worde of eternall saluation4 ,christe calleth them not onlye to the single readyng of scriptures 7saith ,chrisostome7 but sendeth them to the exquisite searching of them1 for in them is eternall lyfe to be founde1 and they be 7saith hym selfe7 the witnesse of me3 for they declare out his office1 they commende his beneuolence towardes vs1 they recorde his whole workes wrought for vs to our saluation4 ,antechriste therefore he must be1 that vnder whatsoeuer colour woulde geue contrary precept or counsayle to that whiche ,christe dyd geue vnto vs4 ,very litle do they resemble ,christes louing spirite mouing vs to searche for our comfort1 that wyll discourage vs from suche searching1 or that woulde wishe ignoraunce and forgetfulnesse of his benefite to raigne in vs1 so that they might by our ignoraunce raigne the more frankly in our consciences1 to the danger of our saluation4 ,who can take the light from us in this miserable vale of blindnesse1 and meane not to haue us stumble in the pathes of perdition to the ruine of our soules3 who wyll enuie vs this bread of lyfe prepared and set on the table for our eternall sustenaunce1 and meane not to famishe vs1 or in steede thereof with their corrupt traditions and doctrines of men to infect vs3 ,all the whole scripture1 saith the holy apostle ,sidenote3 ii4 ,tim4 iii4 ,saint ,paul inspired from ,god aboue1 is profitable to teache1 to reproue1 to refourme1 to instruct in righteousnesse1 that the man of ,god may be sounde and perfect1 instructed to euery good worke4 ,searche therefore1 good reader 7on ,god's name71 as ,christe byddeth thee the holy scripture1 wherein thou mayest find thy saluation3 ,let not the volume of this booke 7by ,gods owne warrant7 depart from thee but occupie thy selfe therein in the whole journey of this ,sidenote3 ,psal4 i4 thy wordly pilgrimage1 to vnderstand thy way howe to walke ryghtly before hym all the dayes of thy lyfe4 ,remember that the prophete ,david pronounceth hym the blessed man whiche wyll muse in the lawe of ,god ,sidenote3 ,psal4 cxix4 both day and night1 remember that he calleth him blessed whiche walketh in the way of the ,lorde1 which wyll searche diligently his testimonies1 and wyll in their whole heart seeke the same4 ,let not the couert suspicious insinuations of the adversaries driue thee from the searche of the holy scripture1 either for the obscuritie whiche they say is in them1 or for the inscrutable hidden misteries they talke to be comprised in them1 or for the straungnes and homlynes of the phrases they would charge ,gods booke with4 ,christe exhorteth thee therefore the rather for the difficultie of the same1 to searche them diligently4 ,sidenote3 ,hebr4 v4 #a ,cor4 xiiii4 ,saint ,paul wylleth thee to haue thy senses exercised in them1 and not to be a chylde in thy senses1 but in malice4 ,though many thinges may be difficulte to thee to vnderstand1 impute it rather to thy dull hearing and reading1 then to thinke that the scriptures be insuperable1 to them whiche with diligent searching labour to discern the evil from the good4 ,sidenote3 ,math4 vii4 ,only searche with an humble spirite1 aske in continuall prayer1 seek with puritie of life1 knocke with perpetuall perseueraunce1 and crye to that good spirite of ,christe the ,comforter3 and surely to euery suche asker it wyll be geuen1 such searchers must nedes finde1 to them it wylbe opened4 ,christ hym selfe wyll open the sense of the scriptures1 ,sidenote3 ,math4 xi4 ,esai4 lxi4 not to the proude1 or to the wyse of the worlde1 but to the lowly and contrite in heart2 ,sidenote3 #a ,cor4 xii4 for he hath the kay of ,dauid1 who openeth and no man shutteth1 who shutteth and no man openeth4 ,sidenote3 ,apoc4 iii4 ,for as this spirite is a bening and liberall spirite1 and wyll be easyly founde of them which wyll early in carefulnesse ryse to seeke hym1 ,sidenote3 ,sapi i4 and as he promiseth he will be the comforter from aboue to teache vs1 and to leade vs into all the wayes of truth1 ,sidenote3 ,iob xiiii4 if that in humilitie we bowe vnto hym1 deniyng our owne naturall senses1 our carnall wittes and reasons3 ,sidenote3 ,sapi i4 so is he the spirite of puritie and cleannes1 and will receede from him1 whose conscience is subiect to filthynesse of lyfe4 ,into suche a soule this heavenly wysdome wyll not enter1 for all peruerse cogitations wyll separate vs from ,god3 ,sidenote3 ,psal4 lxviii4 and then howe busyly soeuer we searche this holy table of the scripture1 yet will it then be a table to suche to their owne snare1 a trap1 a stumbling stocke1 and a recompense to them selfe4 ,we ought therefore to searche to finde out the trueth1 not to oppresse it1 we ought to seeke ,christe1 not as ,herode did vnder the pretence of worshipping hym to destroy hym1 or as the ,pharisees searched the scriptures to disproue ,christe1 and to discredite him1 and not to folowe him2 but to embrace the saluation whiche we may learne by them4 ,nor yet is it inough so to acknowledge the scriptures as some of the ,iewes dyd1 of the holyest of them1 who vsed such diligence1 that they could number precisely1 not only euery verse1 but euery word and sillable1 how oft euery letter of the alphabete was repeated in the whole scriptures3 ,they had some of them suche reuerence to that booke1 that they woulde not suffer in a greate heape of bookes1 any other to lay over them1 they woulde not suffer that booke to fall to the grounde as nye as they coulde1 they woulde costly bynde the bookes of holy scriptures1 and cause them to be exquisitely and ornately written4 ,whiche deuotion yet though it was not to be discommended1 yet was it not for that intent1 why ,christe commended the scriptures1 nor they therof alowed before ,god3 ,for they did not call vpon ,god in a true fayth4 they were not charitable to their neighbours1 but in the middes of all this deuotion1 they did steale1 they were adulterers1 they were slaunderers and backbiters1 euen muche like many of our ,christian men and women nowe a dayes1 who glory muche that they reade the scriptures1 that they searche them and loue them1 that they frequente the publique sermons in an outwarde shewe of all honestie and perfection1 yea they can pike out of the scriptures vertuous sentenses and godly preceptes to lay before other men4 ,and though these maner of men do not muche erre for suche searching and studying1 yet they see not the scope and the principall state of the scriptures1 which is as ,christe declareth it1 to finde ,christe as their ,sauiour1 to cleaue to his saluation and merites1 and to be brought to the lowe repentaunce of their liues1 and to amend them selfe1 to rayse vp their fayth to our ,sauiour ,christe1 so to thinke of him as the scriptures do testifie of hym4 ,these be the principall causes why ,christe did sende the ,iewes to searche the scriptures3 for to this ende were they wrytten1 saith ,saint ,iohn1 ,hae scripta sunt ut credatis1 et vt credentes vitam habeatis eternam4 ,these were written to this intent1 that ye shoulde beleue1 ,sidenote3 ,iohn xx4 and that through your beliefe ye shoulde haue euerlasting life4 ,and here good reader1 great cause we have to extoll the wonderous wisdome of ,god1 and with great thankes to prayse his prouidence1 considering howe he hath preserued and renued from age to age by speciall ,sidenote3 ,hebr4 v4 miracle1 the incomparable treasure of his ,churche4 ,for first he did inspire ,moyses1 as ,iohn ,chrisostome doth testifie1 to wryte the stonie tables1 and kept him in the mountayne fourtie dayes to giue him his lawe3 after him he sent the prophetes1 but they suffred many thousande aduersities1 for battayles did folowe1 all were slayne1 all were destroyed1 bookes were brent vp4 ,he then inspired agayne another man to repayre these miraculous scriptures1 ,esdras ,i meane1 who of their leauings set them agayne together3 after that he provided that the seuentie interpreters should take them in hande3 at the laste came ,christe him selfe1 the ,apostles did receaue them1 and spread them throughout all nations1 ,christe wrought his miracles and wonders3 and what followed8 after these great volumes the ,apostles also did wryte as ,saint ,paul doth say1 ,sidenote3 #a ,cor4 x4 ,these be wrytten to the instruction of vs that be come into the ende of the worlde3 ,sidenote3 ,math4 xxii4 and ,christe doth say1 ,ye therefore erre1 because ye knowe not the scriptures nor the power of ,god3 and ,paul dyd say1 ,sidenote3 ,colo4 iii4 ,let the worde of ,christe be plentifull among you3 and agayne saith ,dauid1 ,sidenote3 ,psal4 cxix4 ,oh howe sweete be thy wordes to my throte3 he saide not to my hearing1 but to my throte1 aboue the hony or the hony combe to my mouth4 ,yea1 ,moyses saith1 ,sidenote3 ,deut4 xvi4 ,thou shalt meditate in them evermore when thou risest1 when thou sittest downe1 when thou goest to sleepe1 continue in them he saith3 and a thousand places more4 ,and yet after so many testimonies thus spoken1 there be some persons that do not yet so much as knowe what the scriptures be3 ,wherevpon nothing is in good state amongst vs1 nothing worthyly is done amongest vs3 ,in this whiche pertayne to this lyfe1 we make very great haste1 but of spirituall goodes we have no regarde4 ,thus farre ,iohn ,chrisost4 ,it must nedes signifie some great thing to our vnderstanding1 that almightie ,god hath had such care to prescribe these bookes thus vnto vs3 ,i say not prescribe them only1 but to maintaine them and defende them against the malignitie of the deuill and his ministers1 who alway went about to destroy them3 and yet could these never be so destroyed1 but that he woulde have them continue whole and perfect to this day1 to our singular comfort and instruction1 where other bookes of mortall wise men haue perished in great numbers4 ,it is recorded that ,ptolomeus ,philadelphus kyng of ,egypt1 had gathered together in one librarie at ,alexandria by his great coste and diligence1 seuen hundred thousand bookes1 wherof the principall were the bookes of ,moyses1 which reserued not much more1 then by the space of two hundred yeres1 were all brent and consumed1 in that battayle when ,csar restored ,cleopatra agayne after her expulsion4 ,at ,constantinople perished under ,zenon by one common fire1 a hundred and twentie thousande bookes4 ,sidenote3 ,iohannes ,sarisberi4 ,in ,policratico1 lib4 #h1 cap4 #ai4 ,w4 de regibus4 ,at ,rome when ,lucius ,aurel ,antonius dyd raigne1 his notable librarie by a lightning from heauen was quite consumed3 ,yea it is recorded that ,gregorie the first1 dyd cause a librarie at ,rome contayning only certaine ,paynim's workes to be burned1 to thintent the scriptures of ,god should be more read and studied4 ,what other great libraries haue there ben csumed but of late daies8 ,and what libraries haue of olde throughout this realme almost in euery abbey of the same1 ben destroyed at sundry ages1 besides the losse of other men's private studies1 it were to long to rehearse4 ,wherevpon seyng almightie ,god by his diuine prouidence1 hath preserued these bookes of the scriptures safe and sounde1 and that in their natiue languages they were first written1 in the great ignoraunce that raigned in these tongues1 and contrary to all other casualties1 chaunced vpon all other bookes in mauger of all worldly wittes1 who would so fayne haue had them destroyed1 and yet he by his mightie hande1 would haue them extant as witnesses and interpreters of his will toward mankind3 we may soone see cause most reuerently to embrace these deuine testimonies of his will1 to studie them1 and to searche them1 to instruct our blinde nature so sore corrupted and fallen from the knowledge in whiche first we were created4 ,yet hauing occasion geuen somewhat to recover our fall and to returne againe to that deuine nature wherein we were once made1 and at the last to be inheritours in the celestiall habitation with ,god almightie1 after the ende of our mortalitie here brought to his dust agayne3 ,these bookes ,i say beyng of such estimation and aucthoritie1 so much reuerenced of them who had any meane taste of them1 coulde neuer be put out of the way1 neither by the spyte of any tiraunt1 as that ,sidenote3 ,galfride mon tiraunt ,maximian destroyed all the holy scriptures wheresoeuer they coulde be founde1 and burnt them in the middes of the market1 neither the hatred either of any ,porphiran philosopher or ,rhetoritian1 neither by the enuie of the romanystes1 and of such hypocrites who from tyme to time did euer barke against them1 some of them not in open sort of condempnation3 but more cunningly vnder suttle pretences1 for that as they say1 they were so harde to vnderstande1 and specially for that they affirm it to be a perilous matter to translate the text of the holy scripture1 and therefore it cannot be well translated4 ,and here we may beholde the endeuour of some men's cauillation1 who labour all they can to slaunder the translatours1 to finde faulte in some wordes of the translation3 but them selfe will neuer set pen to the booke1 to set out any translation at al4 ,they can in their constitutions prouinciall1 ,sidenote3 ,tho ,ardel in concilio apud ,oxon4 ,an #adjg articlo #g4 vnder payne of excommunication1 inhibite al other men to translate them without the ordinaries or the prouinciall counsayle agree therevnto4 ,but they wyll be well ware neuer to agree or geue counsayle to set them out4 ,whiche their suttle compasse in effect1 tendeth but to bewray what inwardly they meane1 if they could bring it about1 that is1 vtterly to suppresse them3 being in this their iudgement1 farre vnlike the olde fathers in the primitiue church1 who hath exhorted indifferently all persons1 aswell men as women1 to exercise them selues in the scriptures1 which by ,saint ,hieroms aucthoritie be the scriptures of the people4 ,yea they be farre vnlike their olde forefathers that have ruled in this realme1 who in their times1 and in diuers ages did their diligence to translate the whole bookes of the scriptures to the erudition of the laytie1 as yet at this day be to be seene diuers bookes translated into the vulgar tongue1 some by kynges of the realme1 some by bishoppes1 some by abbotts1 some by other deuout godly fathers3 so desirous they were of olde tyme to have the lay sort edified in godlynes by reading in their vulgar tongue1 that very many bookes be yet extant1 though for the age of the speache and straungenesse of the charect of many of them almost worne out of knowledge4 ,in whiche bookes may be seene euidently howe it was vsed among the ,saxons1 to haue in their churches read the foure gospels1 so distributed and piked out in the body of the euangelistes bookes1 that to euery ,sunday and festiuall day in the yere1 they were sorted out to the common ministers of the church in their common prayers to be read to their people4 ,sidenote3 #a ,pet4 i4 ,now as of the most auncient fathers the prophets1 ,saint ,peter testifieth that these holy men of ,god had the impulsion of the holy ,ghost1 to speak out these deuine testimonies3 so it is not to be doubted but that these latter holy fathers of the ,englishe ,church1 had the impulsion of the holy ,ghost to set out these sacred bookes in their vulgar language1 to the edification of the people1 ,sidenote3 ,acts xvii4 by the helpe whereof they might the better folowe the example of the godly ,christians1 in the beginning of the ,churche1 who not only receaued the worde withall readinesse of heart1 but also did searche diligently in the scriptures1 whether the doctrine of the ,apostles were agreable to the same scripture4 ,and these were not of the rascall sort 7saith the deuine storie7 but they were of the best and of most noble byrth among the ,thessalonians1 ,birrhenses by name4 ,sidenote3 #a ,pet4 i4 ,yea the prophetes them selues in their dayes1 writeth ,s4 ,peter1 were diligent searchers to inquire out this saluation by ,christe1 searching when and at what article of time this grace of ,christes dispensation shoulde appeare to the world4 ,what ment the fathers of the ,church in their writinges1 but the advauncing of these holy bookes1 where some do attribute no certaintie of vndoubted veritie1 but to the canonicall scriptures3 ,sidenote3 ,aug4 contra epistolam permemini ,hieronimus ,tertullian de doctrina ,christiana ,chrisost in ,matt4 ,ho4 #dg4 ,basilius ,hieronim4 ,some do affirm it to be a foolishe rashe boldnesse to beleue hym1 who proueth not by the scriptures that whiche he affirmeth in his worde4 ,some do accurse all that is deliuered by tradition1 not found in the legall and evangelicall scriptures4 ,some say that our fayth must needes stagger1 if it be not grounded vpon the aucthoritie of the scripture4 ,some testifieth that ,christe and his ,churche ought to be aduouched out of the scriptures1 and do contende in disputation1 that the true ,church can not be knowen1 but only by the holy scriptures3 ,for all other thinges 7saith the same aucthor7 may be found among the heretikes4 ,some affirme it to be a sinfull tradition that is obtruded without the scripture4 ,sidenote3 #a ,pet4 i4 ,some playnely pronounce1 that not to knowe the scriptures is not to know ,christe4 ,wherefore let men extoll out the ,churche practises as hyghly as they can1 and let them set out their traditions and customes1 their decisions in synodes and counsayles1 with vaunting the presence of the holy ,ghost among them really1 as some doth affirme it in their writing1 let their groundes and their demonstrations1 their foundations be as stable and as strong as they blase them out3 ,sidenote3 #a ,pet4 i4 ,yet wyll we be bolde to say with ,saint ,peter1 ,habemus nos firmiorem sermonem propheticum4 ,we have for our part a more stable grounde1 the propheticall wordes 7of the scriptures7 and doubt not to be commended therefore of the same ,saint ,peter with these wordes3 ,cui dum attenditis ceu lucerne apparenti in obscuro loco1 recte facitis donec dies illucescat c4 ,wherevnto saith he1 whyle ye do attende as to alight shining in a darke place1 ye do well vntill the day light appeare1 and till the bright starre do arise vnto our heartes1 ,for this we know1 that al the propheticall scripture standeth not in any priuate interpretation of vayne names1 of severall ,churches1 of catholique vniuersall seas1 of singuler and wylfull heades1 whiche wyll chalenge custome all decision to pertayne to them only1 who be working so muche for their vayne superioritie1 that they be not ashamed now to be of that number1 ,sidenote3 ,psal4 xi4 ,qui dixerunt linguam nostram magnificabimus1 labia nostra a nobis sunt1 quis noster dominus est3 ,which haue sayd with our tongue wyll we preuayle1 we are they that ought to speake1 who is ,lord ouer vs4 ,and whyle they shall contende for their straunge claymed aucthoritie1 we will proceede in the reformation begun1 and doubt no more by the helpe of ,christe his grace1 of the true vnity to ,christes catholique ,churche1 ,sidenote3 ,concilium braccar secundum4 and of the vprightnesse of our fayth in this prouince1 then the ,spanishe cleargie once gathered together in counsaile 7only by the commaundement of their king1 before whiche tyme the ,pope was not so acknowledged in his aucthoritie which he now claymeth7 ,i say as surely dare we trust1 as they dyd trust of their faith and veritie4 ,yea no lesse confidence haue we to professe that1 whiche the fathers of the vniuersall counsaile at ,carthage in ,affrike as they wryte them selfe did professe in their epistle written to ,pope ,celestine1 laying before his face the foule corruption of him selfe 7as two other of his predecessors did the like errour7 in falsifiying the canons of ,nicen counsayle1 for his wrong chalenge of his newe claymed aucthoritie3 ,thus wrytyng4 ,prudentissime enim iustissimeque prouiderunt 7,nicena et ,affricana dicreta7 quecunque negotia in suis locis 7vbi orta sunt7 finienda1 nec vnicuiqui prouinci gratiam sancti spiritus defuturam qua equitas a ,christi sacerdotibus et prudenter videatur1 et constantissime teneatur1 maxime quia vnicuique concessum est1 si iuditio offensus fuerit cognitorum1 ad concilia suae prouinci vel etiam vniuersale prouocare4 ,that 7the ,nicen and ,affrican decrees7 haue most prudently and iustly prouided for all maner of matters to be ended in their teritories where they had their beginning1 and they trusted that not to any one prouince shoulde want the grace of the holy ,ghost1 whereby both the truth or equitie might prudently be seene of the ,christian prelates of ,christe1 and might be also by them most constantly defended1 specially for that it is graunted to euery man 7if he be greeued7 by the iudgement of the cause once knowen to appeale to the counsayles of his owne prouince or els to the vniuersall4 ,except there be any man1 whiche may beleue that our ,lorde ,god woulde inspire the righteousnesse of examination1 to any one singular person1 and to denie the same to priestes gathered together into counsaile without number1 c4 ,and there they do require the bishop of ,rome to send none of his clarkes to execute such prouinciall causes1 lest els say they1 mought be brought in the vayne pride of the world into the ,churche of ,christe4 ,in this antiquitie may we in this christian catholique ,churche of ,englande repose our selfe1 knowyng by our owne annales of auncient recorde that ,kyng ,lucius whose conscience was much touched with the miracles whiche the seruauntes of ,christe wrought in diuers nations1 thervpon beyng in great loue with the true fayth1 sent vnto ,eleutherius then byshop of ,rome requiring of hym the christian religion4 ,sidenote3 ,inter legis ,edwardi4 ,but ,eleutherius did redyly geue ouer that care to ,king ,lucius in his epistle1 for that the ,king as he wryteth1 the vicar of ,god in his owne kingdome1 and for that he had receiued the faith of ,christe3 ,and for that he had also both testamentes in his realme1 he wylled hym to drawe out of them by the grace of ,god1 and by the counsaile of his wisemen1 his lawes1 and by that lawe of ,god to gouerne his realme of ,britanie1 and not so much to desire the ,romane and ,emperour's lawes1 in the whiche some defaulte might be founde saith he1 but in the lawes of ,god nothing at all4 ,sidenote3 ,ex archiuis de statio landauensis ecclie in vita archiepiscopi dubritii1 et in ,i4 capgraue4 ,with which aunswere the ,kinges legates1 ,eluanus and ,medwinus sent as messengers by the ,king to the ,pope1 returned to ,britanie agayne1 ,eluanus beyng made a byshop1 and ,medwine alowed a publique teacher3 who for the eloquence and knowledge they had in the holy ,scriptures1 they repayred home agayne to ,kyng ,lucius1 and by their holy preachings1 ,lucius and the noble men of the whole ,britanie receiued their baptisme1 c4 ,thus farre in the storie4 ,nowe therefore knowing and beleuing with ,saint ,paul1 ,quod quecumque prescripta sunt1 ad nostram doctrinam prescripta sunt vt per pacientiam et consolationem scripturarum spem habeamus3 ,sidenote3 ,rom4 xv4 ,whatsoeuer is afore written1 is written before for our instruction1 ,sidenote3 ,and yet may it be true that ,w41 of ,malsberie1 writeth that ,phaganus and ,dernuianus were sent after 7as ,coadiutours7 with these learned men to the preaching of the ,gospell1 whiche was neuer extinguished in ,britaine fr ,joseph of ,aramathia his time as to ,s4 ,austen1 the first byshop of ,canter1 they do openly abouche4 that we through the patience and comfort of scriptures might haue hope1 the only suretie to our fayth and conscience1 is to sticke to the scriptures4 ,wherevpon whyle this eternall worde of ,god be our rocke and anker to sticke vnto1 we will haue pacience with all the vayne inuentions of men1 who labour so highly to magnifie their tongues1 to exalt them selues aboue al that is ,god4 ,we wil take comfort by the holy scriptures against the maledictions of the aduersaries1 and doubt not to nourishe our hope continually therewith so to liue and dye in this comfortable hope1 and doubt not to pertayne to the elect number of ,christes ,churche1 howe farre soeuer we be excommunicated out of the sinagogue of suche who suppose themselues to be the vniuersall lordes of all the world1 ,lordes of our fayth and consciences1 at pleasure4 ,finally to commend further vnto thee good reader the cause in part before intreated1 it shalbe the lesse needefull1 hauing so nye folowing that learned preface1 which sometime was set out by the diligence of that godly father ,thomas ,cranmer1 late byshop in the sea of ,canterburie1 which he caused to be prefixed before the translation of that ,byble that was then set out4 ,and for that the copies thereof be so wasted1 that very many ,churches do want their conuenient ,bybles1 it was thought good to some well disposed men1 to recognise the same ,byble againe into this fourme as it is nowe come out1 with some further diligence in the printing1 and with some more light added1 partly in the translation1 and partly in the order of the text1 not as condemning the former translation1 whiche was folowed mostly of any other translation1 excepting the originall text from whiche as litle variaunce was made as was thought meete to such as toke paynes therein3 desiring thee good reader if ought be escaped1 eyther by such as had the expending of the bookes1 or by the ouersight of the printer1 to correct the same in the spirite of charitie1 calling to remembraunce what diuersitie hath ben seene in mens iudgementes in the translation of these bookes before these dayes1 though all directed their labours to the glory of ,god1 to the edification of the ,churche1 to the comfort of their christian brethren1 and alwayes as ,god dyd further open vnto them1 so euer more desirous they were to refourme their former humain ouersightes1 rather then in a stubborne wylfulnesse to resist the gyft of the holy ,ghost1 who from tyme to tyme is resident as that heauenly teacher and leader into all trueth1 by whose direction the ,churche is ruled and gouerned4 ,and let all men remember in them selfe howe errour and ignoraunce is created with our nature2 ,sidenote3 ,eccle4 xi4 ,sapi4 ix4 let frayle man confesse with that great wise man1 that the cogitations and inuentions of mortall man be very weake1 and our opinions sone deceaued3 ,for the body so subiect to corruption doth oppresse the soule1 that it cannot aspire so hye as of dutie it ought4 ,men we be all1 and that whiche we know1 is not the thousand part of that we knowe not4 ,whereupon saith ,saint ,austen1 otherwyse to iudge then the truth is1 this temptation ryseth of the frailtie of man4 ,sidenote3 ,de doctri ,christia4 ,a man so to loue and sticke to his owne iudgement1 or to enuie his brothers to the perill of dissoluing the christian communion1 or to the perill of schisme1 and of heresie1 this is diabolicall presumption3 but so to iudge in euery matter as the truth is1 this belongeth onely to the angellicall perfection4 ,notwithstanding good reader1 thou mayest be well assured nothing to be done in this translation eyther of malice or wylfull meaning in altering the text1 eyther by putting more or lesse to the same1 as of purpose to bring in any priuate iudgement by falsification of the wordes1 as some certaine men hath ben ouer bold so to do1 litle regarding the maiestie of ,god his scripture3 but so to make it serue to their corrupt error1 as in alleaging the sentence of ,saint ,paule to the ,romaines the #f4 ,one certaine wryter to proue his satisfaction1 was bold to turne the worde of ,sanctificationem into the worde of ,satisfactionem1 thus1 ,sicut exhibuimus antea membra nostra seruire immundicie et iniquitati ad iniquitatem ita deinceps exhibeamus membra nostra seruire iustitiae in satisfactionem4 ,sidenote3 ,hosius in confessione catholic fidi de sacr penitenti ,idem ,hosius de spe4 et oratione4 ,that is1 as we have geuen our members to vncleannesse1 from iniquitie to iniquitie3 euen so from hencefoorth let vs geue our members to serue righteousnesse into satisfaction3 where the true worde is into sanctification4 ,even so likewise for the auauntage of his cause1 to proue that men may haue in their prayer fayth vpon saintes1 corruptly alleageth ,saint ,paules text1 ,ad philemonem1 thus1 ,fidem quam habes in domino ,iesu et in omnes sanctos1 leauing out the worde charitatem1 which would have rightly ben distributed vnto ,omnes sanctos4 ,as fidem vnto in domino ,iesu4 ,where the text is ,audiens charitatem tuam et fidem quam habes in domino ,iesu in omnes sanctos1 c4 ,it were to long to bryng in many examples1 as may be openly founde in some mens wrytynges in these dayes1 who would be counted the chiefe pillers of the ,catholique fayth1 or to note how corruptly they of purpose abuse the text to the comoditie of their cause4 ,what maner of translation may men thinke to looke for at their handes1 if they should translate the scriptures to the comfort of ,god's elect1 whiche they neuer did1 nor be not like to purpose it1 but be rather studious only to seeke quarrels in other mens well doynges1 to picke fault where none is3 and where any is escaped through humaine negligence1 there to crye out with their tragicall exclamations1 but in no wyse to amende by the spirite of charitie and lenitie1 that whiche might be more aptly set4 ,whervpon for frayle man 7compassed hym selfe with infirmitie7 it is most reasonable not to be to seuere in condemning his brothers knowledge or diligence where he doth erre1 not of malice1 but of simplicitie1 and specially in handeling of these so deuine bookes so profounde in sense1 so farre passing our naturall vnderstanding4 ,and with charitie it standeth1 the reader not to be offended with the diuersitie of translators1 nor with the ambiguitie of translations3 ,for as ,saint ,austen doth witnesse1 ,sidenote3 ,de doctr4 ,christi4 lib4 #b4 cap4 #e4 by ,god's prouidence it is brought about1 that the holy scriptures whiche be the salue for euery mans sore1 though at the first they came from one language1 and thereby might have ben spread to the whole worlde3 nowe by diuersitie of manye languages1 the translatours shoulde spreade the saluation 7that is contayned in them7 to all nations1 by suche wordes of vtteraunce as the reader might perceaue the minde of the translatour1 and so consequently to come to the knowledge of ,god his wyll and pleasure4 ,and though many rashe readers be deceaued in the obscurities and ambiguities of their translations1 whyle they take one thing for another1 and whyle they vse muche labour to extricate them selues out of the obscurities of the same3 yet ,i thinke 7saith he7 this is not wrought without the prouidence of ,god1 both to tame the proude arrogancie of man by his suche labour of searching1 as also to kepe his minde from lothsomnesse and contempt1 where if the scriptures vniuersally were to easie1 he woulde lesse regarde them4 ,and though 7saith he7 in the primitive ,churche the late interpreters whiche did translate the scriptures1 be innumerable1 yet wrought this rather an helpe1 than an impediment to the readers1 if they be not to negligent4 ,for saith he1 diuers translations haue made many tymes the harder and darker sentences1 the more open and playne3 so that of congruence1 no offence can iustly be taken for this newe labour1 nothing preiudicing any other mans iudgement by this doyng1 nor yet hereby professing this to be so absolute a translation1 as that hereafter might folowe no other that might see that whiche as yet was not vnderstanded4 ,in this poynt it is conuenient to consider the iudgement that ,john1 once byshop of ,rochester was in1 who thus wrote3 ,sidenote3 ,articulo1 #ag1 contra ,luth4 ,it is not vnknowen1 but that many thinges hath ben more diligently discussed1 and more clearely vnderstanded by the wittes of these latter dayes1 as well concerning the gospels as other scriptures1 then in olde tyme they were4 ,the cause whereof is 7saith he7 for that to the olde men the yse was not broken1 or for that their age was not sufficient exquisitely to expende the whole mayne sea of the scriptures1 or els for that in this large field of the scriptures1 a man may gather some eares vntouched1 after the haruest men howe diligent soeuer they were4 ,for there be yet 7saith he7 in the ,gospels very many darke places1 whiche without all doubt to the posteritie shalbe made muche more open4 ,for why should we despayre herein1 seing the ,gospell 7wryteth he7 was deliuered to this intent1 that it might be vtterly vnderstanded of vs1 yea to the very inche4 ,wherefore1 forasmuch as ,christe showeth no lesse loue to his ,churche now1 then hitherto he hath done1 the aucthoritie wherof is as yet no whit diminished1 and forasmuch as that holy spirite the perpetuall ,keper and ,gardian of the same ,church1 whose gyftes and graces do flowe as continually and as aboundantly as from the beginning3 who can doubt1 but that such thinges as remayne yet unknowen in the ,gospell1 shalbe hereafter made open to the latter wittes of our posteritie1 to their cleare vnderstanding4 ,only good readers let vs oft call vpon the holy spirite of ,god our heauenly father1 by the mediation of our ,lorde and ,sauiour1 with the wordes of the octonary psalme of ,dauid1 who did so importunately craue of ,god to haue the vnderstanding of his lawes and testament3 ,sidenote3 ,psal4 cxix4 ,let vs humblye on our knees pray to almightie ,god1 with that wyse ,sidenote3 ,sapi4 ix4 ,kyng ,solomon in his very wordes saying thus--,o ,god of my fathers1 and ,lorde of mercies 7that thou hast made all thynges with thy worde1 and didst ordain man through thy wisdome1 that he shoulde haue dominion ouer thy creatures whiche thou hast made1 and that he shoulde order the worlde according to holinesse and righteousnesse1 and that he shoulde execute iudgement with a true heart7 geue me wisdome whiche is euer about thy feate1 and put me not out from among thy chyldren3 ,for ,i thy seruant and sonne of thy handmayden am a feeble person1 of a short time1 and to weake to the vnderstanding of thy iudgementes and lawes4 ,and though a man be neuer so perfect among the children of men1 yet if thy wisdome be not with him1 he shalbe of no value4 ,o sende her out therefore from thy holy heauens1 and from the throne of thy maiestie1 that she may be with me1 and labour with me1 that ,i may know what is acceptable in thy sight3 for she knoweth and vnderstandeth all thinges1 and she shall lead me soberly in my workes1 and preserue me in her power1 ,so shall my workes be acceptable by ,christe our ,lorde1 ,to whom with the father and the holy ,ghost1 be all honour and glorie1 worlde without ende4 ,amen4 7,f47 ,,the ,,preface ,,to ,,the ,,revision ,,of #afaa4 ,sidenote3 ,the best things have been calumniated4 ,zeal to promote the common good1 whether it be by devising any thing ourselves1 or revising that which hath been laboured by others1 deserveth certainly much respect and esteem1 but yet findeth but cold entertainment in the world4 ,it is welcomed with suspicion instead of love1 and with emulation instead of thanks3 and if there be any hole left for cavil to enter1 7and cavil1 if it do not find an hole1 will make one7 it is sure to be misconstrued1 and in danger to be condemned4 ,this will easily be granted by as many as know story1 or have any experience4 ,for was there ever any thing projected that savoured any way of newness or renewing1 but the same endured many a storm of gainsaying or opposition8 ,a man would think that civility1 wholesome laws1 learning and eloquence1 ,synods1 and ,churchmaintenance1 7that we speak of no more things of this kind17 should be as safe as a ,sanctuary1 and#add out of shot1 as they say1 that no man would lift up his heel1 no1 nor dog move his tongue against the motioners of them4 ,for by the first we are distinguished from brute beasts led with sensuality3 by the second we are bridled and restrained from outrageous behaviour1 and from doing of injuries1 whether by fraud or by violence3 by the third we are enabled to inform and reform others by the light and feeling that we have attained unto ourselves3 briefly1 by the fourth1 being brought together to a parley face to face1 we sooner compose our differences1 than by writings1 which are endless3 and lastly1 that the ,church be sufficiently provided for is so agreeable to good reason and conscience1 that those mothers are holden to be less cruel1 that kill their children as soon as they are born1 than those nursing fathers and mothers 7wheresoever they be7 that withdraw from them who hang upon their breasts 7and upon whose breasts again themselves do hang to receive the spiritual and sincere milk of the word7 livelihood and support fit for their estates4 ,thus it is apparent1 that these things which we speak of are of most necessary use1 and therefore that none1 either without absurdity can speak against them1 or without note of wickedness can spurn against them4 ,sidenote3 ,anacharsis1 with others4 ,yet for all that1 the learned know1 that certain worthy men have been brought to untimely death for none other fault1 but for seeking to reduce their countrymen to good order and discipline3 ,sidenote3 ,in ,athens3 witness ,libanius in ,olynth4 ,demosth4 ,cato the elder4 ,and that in some ,commonweals it was made a capital crime1 once to motion the making of a new law for the abrogating of an old1 though the same were most pernicious3 ,and that certain1 which would be counted pillars of the ,state1 and patterns of virtue and prudence1 could not be brought for a long time to give way to good letters and refined speech2 but bare themselves as averse from them1 as from rocks or boxes of poison3 ,and fourthly1 that he was no babe1 but a great ,clerk1 ,sidenote3 ,gregory the ,divine4 that gave forth 7and in writing to remain to posterity71 in passion peradventure1 but yet he gave forth1 ,that he had not seen any profit to come by any synod or meeting of the ,clergy1 but rather the contrary3 ,and lastly1 against ,churchmaintenance and allowance1 in such sort as the ,embassadors and messengers of the great ,king of kings should be furnished1 it is not unknown what a fiction or fable 7so it is esteemed1 and for no better by the reporter himself1 though superstitious7 was devised3 namely1 ,sidenote3 ,nauclerus4 ,that at such time as the professors and teachers of ,christianity in the ,church of ,rome1 then a true ,church1 were liberally endowed1 a voice forsooth was heard from heaven1 saying1 ,now is poison poured down into the ,church1 c4 ,thus not only as oft as we speak1 as one saith1 but also as oft as we do any thing of note or consequence1 we subject ourselves to every one's censure1 and happy is he that is least tossed upon tongues2 for utterly to escape the snatch of them it is impossible4 ,if any man conceit1 that this is the lot and portion of the meaner sort only1 and that ,princes are privileged by their high estate1 he is deceived4 ,sidenote3 #b ,sam4 #aa4 #be4 ,as the sword devoureth as well one as another1 as it is in ,samuel2 nay1 as the great commander charged his soldiers in a certain battle to strike at no part of the enemy1 but at the face2 ,sidenote3 #a ,kin4 #bb4 #ca4 and as the king of ,syria commanded his chief captains to fight neither with small nor great1 save only against the king of ,israel3 so it is too true1 that envy striketh most spitefully at the fairest1 and the chiefest4 ,david was a worthy prince1 and no man to be compared to him for his first deeds2 and yet for as worthy an act as ever he did1 even for bringing back the ark of ,god in solemnity1 he was scorned and scoffed at by his own wife4 ,sidenote3 #b ,sam4 #f4 #af4 ,solomon was greater than ,david1 though not in virtue1 yet in power2 and by his power and wisdom he built a temple to the ,lord1 such an one as was the glory of the land of ,israel1 and the wonder of the whole world4 ,but was that his magnificence liked of by all8 ,we doubt of it4 ,otherwise why do they lay it in his son's dish1 and call unto him for#ade easing of the burden8 ,make1 say they1 the grievous servitude of thy father1 and his sore yoke1 lighter4 ,sidenote3 #a ,kin4 #ab4 #d4 ,belike he had charged them with some levies1 and troubled them with some carriages2 hereupon they raise up a tragedy1 and wish in their heart the temple had never been built4 ,so hard a thing it is to please all1 even when we please ,god best1 and do seek to approve ourselves to every one's conscience4 ,sidenote3 ,the highest personages have been calumniated ,c4 ,csar4 ,plutarch4 ,if we will descend to latter times1 we shall find many the like examples of such kind1 or rather unkind1 acceptance4 ,the first ,roman ,emperor did never do a more pleasing deed to the learned1 nor more profitable to posterity1 for conserving the record of times in true supputation1 than when he corrected the ,calendar1 and ordered the year according to the course of the sun3 and yet this was imputed to him for novelty1 and arrogancy1 and procured to him great obloquy4 ,sidenote3 ,constantine4 ,so the first ,christened ,emperor 7at the least wise1 that openly professed the faith himself1 and allowed others to do the like17 for strengthening the empire at his great charges1 and providing for the ,church1 as he did1 got for his labour the name ,pupillus1 as who would say1 a wasteful ,prince1 that had need of a guardian or overseer4 ,sidenote3 ,aurel4 ,vict4 ,theodosius4 ,zosimus4 ,so the best ,christened ,emperor1 for the love that he bare unto peace1 thereby to enrich both himself and his subjects1 and because he did not seek war1 but find it1 was judged to be no man at arms1 7though indeed he excelled in feats of chivalry1 and shewed so much when he was provoked17 and condemned for giving himself to his ease1 and to his pleasure4 ,sidenote3 ,justinian4 ,to be short1 the most learned ,emperor of former times1 7at the least the greatest politician17 what thanks had he for cutting off the superfluities of the laws1 and digesting them into some order and method8 ,this1 that he hath been blotted by some to be an ,epitomist1 that is1 one that extinguished worthy whole volumes1 to bring his abridgements into request4 ,this is the measure that hath been rendered to excellent ,princes in former times1 cum bene facerent1 male audire1 for their good deeds to be evil spoken of4 ,neither is there any likelihood that envy and malignity died and were buried with the ancient4 ,no1 no1 the reproof of ,moses taketh hold of most ages1 ,sidenote3 ,num4 #cb4 #ad4 ,eccles4 #a4 #i4 ,you are risen up in your fathers' stead1 an increase of sinful men4 ,what is that that hath been done8 that which shall be done3 and there is no new thing under the sun1 saith the wise man4 ,and ,st4 ,stephen1 ,as your fathers did1 so do ye4 ,sidenote3 ,acts #g4 #ea4 ,his ,majesty's constancy1 notwithstanding calumniation1 for the survey of the ,english translation4 1 4 ,this1 and more to this purpose1 his ,majesty that now reigneth 7and long1 and long1 may he reign1 and his offspring for ever1 ,himself1 and children1 and children's children always67 knew full well1 according to the singular wisdom given unto him by ,god1 and the rare learning and experience that he hath attained unto2 namely1 ,that whosoever attempteth any thing for the publick1 7especially if it pertain to religion1 and to the opening and clearing of the word of ,god17 the same setteth himself upon a stage to be glouted upon by every evil eye2 yea1 he casteth himself headlong upon pikes1 to be gored by every sharp tongue4 ,for he that meddleth with men's religion in any part meddleth with their custom1 nay1 with their freehold2 and though they find no content in that which they have1 yet they cannot abide to hear of altering4 ,notwithstanding his royal heart was not daunted or discouraged for this or that colour1 but stood resolute1 as a statue immovable1 and an anvil not easy to be beaten into plates1 as one saith2 ,sidenote3 he knew who had chosen him to be a soldier1 or rather a captain2 and ,sidenote3 1 ,suidas4 being assured that the course which he intended made much for the glory of ,god1 and the building up of his ,church1 he would not suffer it to be broken off for whatsoever speeches or practices4 ,it doth certainly belong unto kings1 yea1 it doth specially belong unto them1 to have care of religion1 yea1 to know it aright1 yea1 to profess it zealously1 yea1 to promote it to the uttermost of their power4 ,this is their glory before all nations which mean well1 and this will bring unto them a far most excellent weight of glory in the day of the ,lord ,jesus4 ,for the ,scripture saith not in vain1 ,sidenote3 #a ,sam4 #b4 #cj4 ,them that honour me ,i will honour3 neither was it a vain word that ,eusebius delivered long ago1 ,sidenote3 1 ,eusebius1 lib4 #aj4 cap4 #h4 ,that piety toward ,god was the weapon1 and the only weapon1 that both preserved ,constantine's person1 and avenged him of his enemies4 ,sidenote3 ,the praise of the holy ,scriptures4 ,but now what piety without truth8 ,what truth1 what saving truth1 without the word of ,god8 ,what word of ,god1 whereof we may be sure1 without the ,scripture8 ,the ,scriptures we are commanded to search1 ,john v4 #ci4 ,isaiah viii4 #bj4 ,they are commended that searched and studied them1 ,acts xvii4 #aa1 and viii4 #bh1 #bi4 ,they are reproved that were unskilful in them1 or slow to believe them1 ,matth4 xxii4 #bi4 ,luke xxiv4 #be4 ,they can make us wise unto salvation1 #b ,tim4 iii4 #ae4 ,if we be ignorant1 they will instruct us2 if out of the way1 they will bring us home2 if out of order1 they will reform us2 if in heaviness1 comfort us2 if dull1 quicken us2 if cold1 inflame us4 ,sidenote3 ,st4 ,august4 ,confess4 lib4 #h4 cap4 #ab4 ,st4 ,august4 ,de utilit4 credendi1 cap4 #f4 ,tolle1 lege2 tolle1 lege2 ,take up and read1 take up and read the ,scriptures1 7for unto them was the direction17 it was said unto ,st4 ,augustine by a supernatural voice4 ,whatsoever is in the ,scriptures1 believe me1 saith the same ,st4 ,augustine1 is high and divine2 there is verily truth1 and a doctrine most fit for the refreshing and renewing of men's minds1 and truly so tempered1 that every one may draw from thence that which is sufficient for him1 if he come to draw with a devout and pious mind1 as true religion requireth4 ,thus ,st4 ,augustine4 ,and ,st4 ,hierome1 ,sidenote3 ,st4 ,hieron4 ad ,demetriad4 ,st4 ,cyrill #g contra ,julian4 ,ama ,scripturas1 et amabit te sapientia1 c4 ,love the ,scriptures1 and wisdom will love thee4 ,and ,st4 ,cyrill against ,julian1 ,even boys that are bred up in the ,scriptures become most religious1 c4 ,but what mention we three or four uses of the ,scripture1 whereas whatsoever is to be believed1 or practised1 or hoped for1 is contained in them8 or three or four sentences of the ,fathers1 since whosoever is worthy the name of a ,father1 from ,christ's time downward1 hath likewise written not only of the riches1 but also of the perfection of the ,scripture8 ,sidenote3 ,tertul4 advers4 ,herm4 ,tertul4 ,de carn4 ,christ4 1 ,justin4 4 4 1 ,st4 ,basil4 4 ,i adore the fulness of the ,scripture1 saith ,tertullian against ,hermogenes4 ,and again1 to ,apelles an heretick of the like stamp he saith1 ,i do not admit that which thou bringest in 7or concludest7 of thine own 7head or store1 de tuo7 without ,scripture4 ,so ,st4 ,justin ,martyr before him2 ,we must know by all means 7saith he7 that it is not lawful 7or possible7 to learn 7any thing7 of ,god or of right piety1 save only out of the ,prophets1 who teach us by divine inspiration4 ,so ,st4 ,basil after ,tertullian1 ,it is a manifest falling away from the faith1 and a fault of presumption1 either to reject any of those things that are written1 or to bring in 7upon the head of them1 7 any of those things that are not written4 ,we omit to cite to the same effect ,st4 ,cyrill ,bishop of ,jerusalem in his #d4 ,catech4 ,st4 ,hierome against ,helvidius1 ,st4 ,augustine in his third book against the letters of ,petilian1 and in very many other places of his works4 ,also we forbear to descend to later ,fathers1 because we will not weary the reader4 ,the ,scriptures then being acknowledged to be so full and so perfect1 how can we excuse ourselves of negligence1 if we do not study them8 of curiosity1 if we be not content with them8 ,sidenote3 1 1 1 1 c4 ,an olive bough wrapped about with wool1 whereupon did hang figs1 and bread1 and honey in a pot1 and oil4 ,men talk much of 1 how many sweet and goodly things it had hanging on it2 of the ,philosopher's stone1 that it turneth copper into gold2 of ,cornu-copia1 that it had all things necessary for food in it2 of ,panaces1 the herb1 that it was good for all diseases2 of ,catholicon the drug1 that it is instead of all purges2 of ,vulcan's armour1 that it was an armour of proof against all thrusts and all blows1 c4 ,well1 that which they falsely or vainly attributed to these things for bodily good1 we may justly and with full measure ascribe unto the ,scripture for spiritual4 ,it is not only an armour1 but also a whole armoury of weapons1 both offensive and defensive2 whereby we may save ourselves1 and put the enemy to flight4 ,it is not an herb1 but a tree1 or rather a whole paradise of trees of life1 which bring forth fruit every month1 and the fruit thereof is for meat1 and the leaves for medicine4 ,it is not a pot of ,manna1 or a cruse of oil1 which were for memory only1 or for a meal's meat or two2 but1 as it were1 a shower of heavenly bread sufficient for a whole host1 be it never so great1 and1 as it were1 a whole cellar full of oil vessels2 whereby all our necessities may be provided for1 and our debts discharged4 ,in a word1 it is a panary of wholesome food against fenowed traditions2 ,sidenote3 1 ,st4 ,basil in ,psal4 primum4 a physician's shop 7as ,st4 ,basil calls it7 of preservatives against poisoned heresies2 a pandect of profitable laws against rebellious spirits2 a treasury of most costly jewels against beggarly rudiments2 finally1 a fountain of most pure water springing up unto everlasting life4 ,and what marvel8 the original thereof being from heaven1 not from earth2 the author being ,god1 not man2 the inditer1 the ,holy ,spirit1 not the wit of the ,apostles or ,prophets2 the penmen1 such as were sanctified from the womb1 and endued with a principal portion of ,god's ,spirit2 the matter1 verity1 piety1 purity1 uprightness2 the form1 ,god's word1 ,god's testimony1 ,god's oracles1 the word of truth1 the word of salvation1 c42 the effects1 light of understanding1 stableness of persuasion1 repentance from dead works1 newness of life1 holiness1 peace1 joy in the ,holy ,ghost2 lastly1 the end and reward of the study thereof1 fellowship with the saints1 participation of the heavenly nature1 fruition of an inheritance immortal1 undefiled1 and that never shall fade away4 ,happy is the man that delighteth in the ,scripture1 and thrice happy that meditateth in it day and night4 ,sidenote3 ,translation necessary4 ,but how shall men meditate in that which they cannot understand8 ,how shall they understand that which is kept close in an unknown tongue8 as it is written1 ,sidenote3 #a ,cor4 #ad4 #aa4 ,except ,i know the power of the voice1 ,i shall be to him that speaketh a barbarian1 and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian to me4 ,the ,apostle excepteth no tongue2 not ,hebrew the ancientest1 not ,greek the most copious1 not ,latin the finest4 ,nature taught a natural man to confess1 that all of us in those tongues which we do not understand are plainly deaf2 we may turn the deaf ear unto them4 ,sidenote3 ,clem4 ,alex4 #a ,strom4 ,st4 ,hieronym4 ,damaso4 ,michael1 ,theophili fil4 #b ,tom4 ,concil4 ex edit4 ,petri ,crab4 ,the ,scythian counted the ,athenian1 whom he did not understand1 barbarous3 so the ,roman did the ,syrian1 and the ,jew3 7even ,st4 ,hierome himself calleth the ,hebrew tongue barbarous2 belike1 because it was strange to so many37 so the ,emperor of ,constantinople calleth the ,latin tongue barbarous1 though ,pope ,nicolas do storm at it3 ,sidenote3 ,cicero #e4 ,de ,finibus4 so the ,jews long before ,christ called all other nations ,lognasim1 which is little better than barbarous4 ,therefore as one complaineth that always in the ,senate of ,rome there was one or other that called for an interpreter2 so lest the ,church be driven to the like exigent1 it is necessary to have translations in a readiness4 ,translation it is that openeth the window1 to let in the light2 that breaketh the shell1 that we may eat the kernel2 that putteth aside the curtain1 that we may look into the most holy place2 that removeth the cover of the well1 that we may come by the water2 ,sidenote3 ,gen4 #bi4 #aj4 even as ,jacob rolled away the stone from the mouth of the well1 by which means the flocks of ,laban were watered4 ,indeed without translation into the vulgar tongue1 ,sidenote3 ,john #d4 #aa4 the unlearned are but like children at ,jacob's well 7which was deep7 without a bucket or something to draw with3 ,sidenote3 ,isai4 #bi4 #aa4 or as that person mentioned by ,esay1 to whom when a sealed book was delivered with this motion1 ,read this1 ,i pray thee2 he was fain to make this answer1 ,i cannot1 for it is sealed4 ,sidenote3 ,the translation of the ,old ,testament out of the ,hebrew into ,greek4 ,see ,st4 ,august4 lib4 #ab4 contra ,faust4 cap4 #cb4 ,while ,god would be known only in ,jacob1 and have his name great in ,israel1 and in none other place2 while the dew lay on ,gideon's fleece only1 and all the earth besides was dry2 then for one and the same people1 which spake all of them the language of ,canaan1 that is1 ,hebrew1 one and the same original in ,hebrew was sufficient4 ,but when the fulness of time drew near1 that the ,sun of righteousness1 the ,son of ,god1 should come into the world1 whom ,god ordained to be a reconciliation through faith in his blood1 not of the ,jew only1 but also of the ,greek1 yea1 of all them that were scattered abroad2 then1 lo1 it pleased the ,lord to stir up the spirit of a ,greek prince1 7,greek for descent and language17 even of ,ptolemy ,philadelph king of ,egypt1 to procure the translating of the book of ,god out of ,hebrew into ,greek4 ,this is the translation of the ,seventy interpreters1 commonly so called1 which prepared the way for our ,saviour among the ,gentiles by written preaching1 as ,st4 ,john ,baptist did among the ,jews by vocal4 ,for the ,grecians1 being desirous of learning1 were not wont to suffer books of worth to lie moulding in kings' libraries1 but had many of their servants1 ready scribes1 to copy them out1 and so they were dispersed and made common4 ,again the ,greek tongue was well known and made familiar to most inhabitants in ,asia by reason of the conquests that there the ,grecians had made1 as also by the colonies which thither they had sent4 ,for the same causes also it was well understood in many places of ,europe1 yea1 and of ,africk too4 ,therefore the word of ,god1 being set forth in ,greek1 becometh hereby like a candle set upon a candlestick1 which giveth light to all that are in the house2 or like a proclamation sounded forth in the market place1 which most men presently take knowledge of2 and therefore that language was fittest to contain the ,scriptures1 both for the first preachers of the ,gospel to appeal unto for witness1 and for the learners also of those times to make search and trial by4 ,it is certain1 that that translation was not so sound and so perfect1 but that it needed in many places correction2 and who had been so sufficient for this work as the ,apostles or apostolick men8 ,yet it seemed good to the ,holy ,ghost and to them to take that which they found1 7the same being for the greatest part true and sufficient17 rather than by making a new1 in that new world and green age of the ,church1 to expose themselves to many exceptions and cavillations1 as though they made a translation to serve their own turn2 and therefore hearing witness to themselves1 their witness not to be regarded4 ,this may be supposed to be some cause1 why the translation of the ,seventy was allowed to pass for current4 ,notwithstanding1 though it was commended generally1 yet it did not fully content the learned1 no not of the ,jews4 ,for not long after ,christ1 ,aquila fell in hand with a new translation1 and after him ,theodotion1 and after him ,symmachus2 yea1 there was a fifth1 and a sixth edition1 the authors whereof were not known4 ,these with the ,seventy made up the ,hexapla1 and were worthily and to great purpose compiled together by ,origen4 ,howbeit the edition of the ,seventy went away with the credit1 and therefore not only was placed in the midst by ,origen1 7for the worth and excellency thereof above the rest1 as ,epiphanius gathereth17 ,sidenote3 ,epiphan4 ,de mensuris et ponderib4 ,st4 ,august4 #b4 ,de doctrin4 ,christian4 c4 #ae4 ,novel4 diatax4 #adf4 but also was used by the ,greek ,fathers for the ground and foundation of their commentaries4 ,yea1 ,epiphanius abovenamed doth attribute so much unto it1 that he holdeth the authors thereof not only for interpreters1 ,sidenote3 4 but also for prophets in some respect3 and ,justinian the ,emperor1 injoining the ,jews his subjects to use especially the translation of the ,seventy1 rendereth this reason thereof1 ,because they were1 as it were1 enlightened with prophetical grace4 ,sidenote3 ,isai4 #ca4 #c4 ,yet for all that1 as the ,egyptians are said of the ,prophet to be men and not ,god1 and their horses flesh and not spirit3 so it is evident1 7and ,st4 ,hierome affirmeth as much17 ,sidenote3 ,st4 ,hieron4 de optimo genere interpret4 that the ,seventy were interpreters1 they were not prophets4 ,they did many things well1 as learned men2 but yet as men they stumbled and fell1 one while through oversight1 another while through ignorance2 yea1 sometimes they may be noted to add to the original1 and sometimes to take from it3 which made the ,apostles to leave them many times1 when they left the ,hebrew1 and to deliver the sense thereof according to the truth of the word1 as the ,spirit gave them utterance4 ,this may suffice touching the ,greek translations of the ,old ,testament4 ,sidenote3 ,translation out of ,hebrew and ,greek into ,latin4 ,there were also within a few hundred years after ,christ translations many into the ,latin tongue3 for this tongue also was very fit to convey the ,law and the ,gospel by1 because in those times very many countries of the ,west1 yea of the ,south1 ,east1 and ,north1 spake or understood ,latin1 being made provinces to the ,romans4 ,but now the ,latin translations were too many to be all good3 for they were infinite2 7,latini interpretes nullo modo numerari possunt1 saith ,st4 ,augustine47 ,sidenote3 ,st4 ,august4 de doctrin4 ,christ4 lib4 #b4 cap4 #aa4 ,again1 they were not out of the ,hebrew fountain1 7we speak of the ,latin translations of the ,old ,testament17 but out of the ,greek stream2 therefore the ,greek being not altogether clear1 the ,latin derived from it must needs be muddy4 ,this moved ,st4 ,hierome1 a most learned ,father1 and the best linguist without controversy of his age1 or of any other that went before him1 to undertake the translating of the ,old ,testament out of the very fountains themselves2 which he performed with that evidence of great learning1 judgment1 industry1 and faithfulness1 that he hath for ever bound the ,church unto him in a debt of special remembrance and thankfulness4 ,sidenote3 ,the translating of the ,scripture into the vulgar tongues4 ,now though the ,church were thus furnished with ,greek and ,latin translations1 even before the faith of ,christ was generally embraced in the ,empire3 7for the learned know1 ,sidenote3 ,st4 ,hieron4 ,marcell4 ,zosim4 that even in ,st4 ,hierome's time the ,consul of ,rome and his wife were both ,ethnicks1 and about the same time the greatest part of the ,senate also37 yet for all that the godly learned were not content to have the ,scriptures in the language which themselves understood1 ,sidenote3 #b ,kin4 #g4 #i4 ,greek and ,latin1 7as the good lepers were not content to fare well themselves1 but acquainted their neighbours with the store that ,god had sent1 that they also might provide for themselves27 but also for the behoof and edifying of the unlearned1 which hungered and thirsted after righteousness1 and had souls to be saved as well as they1 they provided translations into the vulgar for their countrymen1 insomuch that most nations under heaven did shortly after their conversion hear ,christ speaking unto them in their mother tongue1 not by the voice of their minister only1 but also by the written word translated4 ,if any doubt hereof1 he may be satisfied by examples enough1 if enough will serve the turn4 ,sidenote3 ,st4 ,hieron4 ,prf4 in #d4 ,evangel4 ,first1 ,st4 ,hierome saith1 ,multarum gentium linguis ,scriptura ante translata docet falsa esse qu addita sunt1 c42 that is1 ,the ,scripture being translated before in the languages of many nations doth shew that those things that were added 7by ,lucian or ,hesychius7 are false4 ,sidenote3 ,st4 ,hieron4 ,sophronio4 ,so ,st4 ,hierome in that place4 ,the same ,hierome elsewhere affirmeth that he1 the time was1 had set forth the translation of the ,seventy1 su ling hominibus2 that is1 for his countrymen of ,dalmatia4 ,which words not only ,erasmus doth understand to purport1 that ,st4 ,hierome translated the ,scripture into the ,dalmatian tongue2 ,sidenote3 ,six4 ,sen4 lib4 #d4 ,alphon4 a ,castro1 lib4 #a4 cap4 #bc4 ,st4 ,chrysost4 in ,joann4 cap4 #a4 hom4 #a4 but also ,sixtus ,senensis1 and ,alphonsus a ,castro1 7that we speak of no more17 men not to be excepted against by them of ,rome1 do ingenuously confess as much4 ,so ,st4 ,chrysostome1 that lived in ,st4 ,hierome's time1 giveth evidence with him3 ,the doctrine of ,st4 ,john 7saith he7 did not in such sort 7as the ,philosophers' did7 vanish away3 but the ,syrians1 ,egyptians1 ,indians1 ,persians1 ,ethiopians1 and infinite other nations1 being barbarous people1 translated it into their 7mother7 tongue1 and have learned1 to be 7true7 ,philosophers1 he meaneth ,christians4 ,sidenote3 ,theodor4 #e4 ,therapeut4 ,to this may be added ,theodoret1 as next unto him both for antiquity1 and for learning4 ,his words be these1 ,every country that is under the sun is full of these words1 7of the ,apostles and ,prophets27 and the ,hebrew tongue 7he meaneth the ,scriptures in the ,hebrew tongue7 is turned not only into the language of the ,grecians1 but also of the ,romans1 and ,egyptians1 and ,persians1 and ,indians1 and ,armenians1 and ,scythians1 and ,sauromatians1 and1 briefly1 into all the languages that any nation useth4 ,sidenote3 ,p4 ,diacon4 lib4 #ab4 ,isid4 in ,chron4 ,goth4 ,sozom4 lib4 #f4 cap4 #eg4 ,vasseus in ,chro4 ,hisp4 ,polydor4 ,virg4 #e4 hist4 ,anglorum testatur idem de ,aluredo nostro4 ,aventin4 lib4 #d4 ,so he4 ,in like manner ,ulpilas is reported by ,paulus ,diaconus and ,isidore1 and before them by ,sozomen1 to have translated the ,scriptures into the ,gothick tongue3 ,john ,bishop of ,sevil by ,vasseus1 to have turned them into ,arabick about the ,year of our ,lord #gag3 ,beda by ,cistertiensis1 to have turned a great part of them into ,saxon3 ,efnard by ,trithemius1 to have abridged the ,french ,psalter 7as ,beda had done the ,hebrew7 about the year #hjj3 ,king ,alured by the said ,cistertiensis1 to have turned the ,psalter into ,saxon3 ,methodius by ,aventinus 7printed at ,ingolstad7 to have turned the ,scriptures into ,sclavonian3 ,valdo#adf ,bishop of ,frising by ,beatus ,rhenanus1 to have caused about that time the ,gospels to be translated into ,dutch rhyme1 yet extant in the library of ,corbinian3 ,valdus by divers1 to have turned them himself1 or to have gotten them turned1 into ,french1 about the ,year #aafj3 ,charles the ,fifth of that name1 surnamed ,the wise1 to have caused them to be turned into ,french about #bjj years after ,valdus' time2 of which translation there be many copies yet extant1 as witnesseth ,beroaldus4 ,sidenote3 ,beroald4 ,thuan4 ,much about that time1 even in our ,king ,richard the ,second's days1 ,john ,trevisa translated them into ,english1 and many ,english ,bibles in written hand are yet to be seen with divers2 translated1 as it is very probable1 in that age4 ,so the ,syrian translation of the ,new ,testament is in most learned men's libraries1 of ,widminstadius' setting forth2 and the ,psalter in ,arabick is with many1 of ,augustinus ,nebiensis' setting forth4 ,so ,postel affirmeth1 that in his travel he saw the ,gospels in the ,ethiopian tongue3 ,and ,ambrose ,thesius alledgeth the ,psalter of the ,indians1 which he testifieth to have been set forth by ,potken in ,syrian characters4 ,so that to have the ,scriptures in the mother tongue is not a quaint conceit lately taken up1 either by the ,lord ,cromwell in ,england1 or by the ,lord ,radevile in ,polony1 or by the ,lord ,ungnadius in the ,emperor's dominion1 but hath been thought upon1 and put in practice of old1 even from the first times of the conversion of any nation2 no doubt1 because it was esteemed most profitable to cause faith to grow in men's hearts the sooner1 and to make them to be able to say with the words of the ,psalm1 ,sidenote3 ,psal4 #dh4 #h4 ,as we have heard1 so we have seen4 ,sidenote3 ,the unwillingness of our chief adversaries that the ,scriptures should be divulged in the mother tongue1 c4 ,sophocl4 ,now the church of ,rome would seem at the length to bear a motherly affection toward her children1 and to allow them the ,scriptures in the mother tongue3 but indeed it is a gift1 not deserving to be called a gift1 an unprofitable gift3 they must first get a licence in writing before they may use them2 and to get that1 they must approve themselves to their ,confessor1 that is1 to be such as are1 if not frozen in the dregs1 yet soured with the leaven of their superstition4 ,howbeit it seemed too much to ,clement the ,eighth1 that there should be any licence granted to have them in the vulgar tongue1 and therefore he overruleth and frustrateth the grant of ,pius the ,fourth4 ,sidenote3 ,see the observation 7set forth by ,clement's authority7 upon the #dth rule of ,pius the #dth's making in the ,index lib4 prohib4 pag4 #ae4 ver4 #e4 ,tertull4 de resur4 carnis4 ,so much are they afraid of the light of the ,scripture1 7,lucifug ,scripturarum1 as ,tertullian speaketh17 that they will not trust the people with it1 no not as it is set forth by their own sworn men1 no not with the licence of their own ,bishops and ,inquisitors4 ,yea1 so unwilling they are to communicate the ,scriptures to the people's understanding in any sort1 that they are not ashamed to confess1 that we forced them to translate it into ,english against their wills4 ,this seemeth to argue a bad cause1 or a bad conscience1 or both4 ,sure we are1 that it is not he that hath good gold1 that is afraid to bring it to the touch-stone1 but he that hath the counterfeit2 ,sidenote3 ,john #c4 #bj4 neither is it the true man that shunneth the light1 but the malefactor1 lest his deeds should be reproved2 neither is it the plaindealing merchant that is unwilling to have the weights1 or the meteyard1 brought in place1 but he that useth deceit4 ,but we will let them alone for this fault1 and return to translation4 ,sidenote3 ,the speeches and reasons both of our brethren1 and of adversaries1 against this work4 ,many men's mouths have been opened a good while 7and yet are not stopped7 with speeches about the translation so long in hand1 or rather perusals of translations made before3 and ask what may be the reason1 what the necessity1 of the employment4 ,hath the ,church been deceived1 say they1 all this while8 ,hath her sweet bread been mingled with leaven1 her silver with dross1 her wine with water1 her milk with lime8 7lacte gypsum male miscetur1 saith ,st4 ,irenee47 ,sidenote3 ,st4 ,iren4 lib4 #c4 cap4 #ai4 ,we hoped that we had been in the right way1 that we had had the ,oracles of ,god delivered unto us1 and that though all the world had cause to be offended1 and to complain1 yet that we had none4 ,hath the nurse holden out the breast1 and nothing but wind in it8 ,hath the bread been delivered by the ,fathers of the ,church1 and the same proved to be lapidosus1 as ,seneca speaketh8 ,what is it to handle the word of ,god deceitfully1 if this be not8 ,thus certain brethren4 ,also the adversaries of ,judah and ,jerusalem1 ,sidenote3 ,neh4 #d4 #b1 #c4 like ,sanballat in ,nehemiah1 mock1 as we hear1 both at the work and workmen1 saying1 ,what do these weak ,jews1 c41 will they make the stones whole again out of the heaps of dust which are burnt8 although they build1 yet if a fox go up1 he shall even break down their stony wall4 ,was their translation good before8 ,why do they now mend it8 ,was it not good8 ,why then was it obtruded to the people8 ,yea1 why did the ,catholicks 7meaning ,popish ,romanists7 always go in jeopardy for refusing to go to hear it8 ,nay1 if it must be translated into ,english1 ,catholicks are fittest to do it4 ,they have learning1 and they know when a thing is well1 they can manum de tabula4 ,we will answer them both briefly3 ,sidenote3 ,st4 ,hieron4 ,apolog4 advers4 ,ruffin4 and the former1 being brethren1 thus with ,st4 ,hierome1 ,damnamus veteres8 ,minime1 sed post priorum studia in domo ,domini quod possumus laboramus4 ,that is1 ,do we condemn the ancient8 ,in no case3 but after the endeavours of them that were before us1 we take the best pains we can in the house of ,god4 ,as if he said1 ,being provoked by the example of the learned that lived before my time1 ,i have thought it my duty to assay1 whether my talent in the knowledge of the tongues may be profitable in any measure to ,god's ,church1 lest ,i should seem to have laboured in them in vain1 and lest ,i should be thought to glory in men 7although ancient7 above that which was in them4 ,thus ,st4 ,hierome may be thought to speak4 ,sidenote3 ,a satisfaction to our brethren4 ,and to the same effect say we1 that we are so far off from condemning any of their labours that travelled before us in this kind1 either in this land1 or beyond sea1 either in ,king ,henry's time1 or ,king ,edward's1 7if there were any translation1 or correction of a translation1 in his time17 or ,queen ,elizabeth's of ever renowned memory1 that we acknowledge them to have been raised up of ,god for the building and furnishing of his ,church1 and that they deserve to be had of us and of posterity in everlasting remembrance4 ,the judgment of ,aristotle is worthy and well known3 ,sidenote3 ,arist4 #b4 ,metaphys4 cap4 #a4 ,if ,timotheus had not been1 we had not had much sweet musick3 ,but if ,phrynis 7,timotheus' master7 had not been1 we had not had ,timotheus4 ,therefore blessed be they1 and most honoured be their name1 that break the ice1 and give the onset upon that which helpeth forward to the saving of souls4 ,now what can be more available thereto1 than to deliver ,god's book unto ,god's people in a tongue which they understand8 ,since of an hidden treasure1 and of a fountain that is sealed1 there is no profit1 as ,ptolemy ,philadelph wrote to the ,rabbins or masters of the ,jews1 as witnesseth ,epiphanius3 ,sidenote3 ,st4 ,epiphan4 loco ante citato4 ,st4 ,august4 lib4 #ai4 ,de civit4 ,dei1 cap4 #g4 and as ,st4 ,augustine saith1 ,a man had rather be with his dog than with a stranger 7whose tongue is strange unto him47 ,yet for all that1 as nothing is begun and perfected at the same time1 and the latter thoughts are thought to be the wiser3 so1 if we building upon their foundation that went before us1 and being holpen by their labours1 do endeavour to make that better which they left so good2 no man1 we are sure1 hath cause to mislike us2 they1 we persuade ourselves1 if they were alive1 would thank us4 ,the vintage of ,abiezer1 that strake the stroke3 yet the gleaning of grapes of ,ephraim was not to be despised4 ,see ,judges viii4 #b4 ,sidenote3 #b ,kin4 #ac4 #ah1 #ai4 ,joash the king of ,israel did not satisfy himself till he had smitten the ground three times2 and yet he offended the ,prophet for giving over then4 ,aquila1 of whom we spake before1 translated the ,bible as carefully and as skilfully as he could2 and yet he thought good to go over it again1 and then it got the credit with the ,jews1 to be called ' 1 that is1 accurately done1 as ,st4 ,hierome witnesseth4 ,sidenote3 ,st4 ,hieron4 in ,ezech4 cap4 #c4 ,how many books of profane learning have been gone over again and again1 by the same translators1 by others8 ,of one and the same book of ,aristotle's ,ethicks there are extant not so few as six or seven several translations4 ,now if this cost may be bestowed upon the gourd1 which affordeth us a little shade1 and which to day flourisheth1 but to morrow is cut down2 what may we bestow1 nay1 what ought we not to bestow1 upon the vine1 the fruit whereof maketh glad the conscience of man1 and the stem whereof abideth for ever8 ,and this is the word of ,god1 which we translate4 ,sidenote3 ,jer4 #bc4 #bh4 ,what is the chaff to the wheat8 saith the ,lord4 ,tanti vitreum1 quanti verum margaritum6 7saith ,tertullian47 ,sidenote3 ,tertull4 ad ,martyr4 ,si tanti vilissimum vitrum1 quanti preciosissimum margaritum6 ,hier4 ad ,salvin4 ,if a toy of glass be of that reckoning with us1 how ought we to value the true pearl6 ,therefore let no man's eye be evil1 because his ,majesty's is good2 neither let any be grieved1 that we have a ,prince that seeketh the increase of the spiritual wealth of ,israel2 7let ,sanballats and ,tobiahs do so1 which therefore do bear their just reproof27 but let us rather bless ,god from the ground of our heart for working this religious care in him to have the translations of the ,bible maturely considered of and examined4 ,for by this means it cometh to pass1 that whatsoever is sound already1 7and all is sound for substance in one or other of our editions1 and the worst of ours far better than their authentick vulgar7 the same will shine as gold more brightly1 being rubbed and polished2 also1 if any thing be halting1 or superfluous1 or not so agreeable to the original1 the same may be corrected1 and the truth set in place4 ,and what can the ,king command to be done1 that will bring him more true honour than this8 ,and wherein could they that have been set a work approve their duty to the ,king1 yea1 their obedience to ,god1 and love to his ,saints1 more1 than by yielding their service1 and all that is within them1 for the furnishing of the work8 ,but besides all this1 they were the principal motives of it1 and therefore ought least to quarrel it4 ,for the very historical truth is1 that upon the importunate petitions of the ,puritanes at his ,majesty's coming to this crown1 the conference at ,hampton-court having been appointed for hearing their complaints1 when by force of reason they were put from all other grounds1 they had recourse at the last to this shift1 that they could not with good conscience subscribe to the communion book1 since it maintained the ,bible as it was there translated1 which was1 as they said1 a most corrupted translation4 ,and although this was judged to be but a very poor and empty shift1 yet even hereupon did his ,majesty begin to bethink himself of the good that might ensue by a new translation1 and presently after gave order for this translation which is now presented unto thee4 ,thus much to satisfy our scrupulous brethren4 ,sidenote3 ,an answer to the imputations of our adversaries4 ,now to the latter we answer1 ,that we do not deny1 nay1 we affirm and avow1 that the very meanest translation of the ,bible in ,english1 set forth by men of our profession1 7for we have seen none of their's of the whole ,bible as yet7 containeth the word of ,god1 nay1 is the word of ,god3 ,as the ,king's speech which he uttered in ,parliament1 being translated into ,french1 ,dutch1 ,italian1 and ,latin1 is still the ,king's speech1 though it be not interpreted by every translator with the like grace1 nor peradventure so fitly for phrase1 nor so expressly for sense1 every where4 ,for it is confessed1 that things are to take their denomination of the greater part2 ,sidenote3 ,horace4 and a natural man could say1 ,verum ubi multa nitent in carmine1 non ego paucis offendor maculis1 c4 ,a man may be counted a virtuous man1 though he have made many slips in his life1 7else there were none virtuous1 for in many things we offend all17 ,sidenote3 ,jam4 #c4 #b4 also a comely man and lovely1 though he have some warts upon his hand2 yea1 not only freckles upon his face1 but also scars4 ,no cause therefore why the word translated should be denied to be the word1 or forbidden to be current1 notwithstanding that some imperfections and blemishes may be noted in the setting forth of it4 ,for what ever was perfect under the sun1 where ,apostles or apostolick men1 that is1 men endued with an extraordinary measure of ,god's ,spirit1 and privileged with the privilege of infallibility1 had not their hand8 ,the ,romanists therefore in refusing to hear1 and daring to burn the word translated1 did no less than despite the ,spirit of grace1 from whom originally it proceeded1 and whose sense and meaning1 as well as man's weakness would enable1 it did express4 ,judge by an example or two4 ,sidenote3 ,plutarch in ,camillo4 ,plutarch writeth1 that after that ,rome had been burnt by the ,gauls1 they fell soon to build it again3 but doing it in haste1 they did not cast the streets1 nor proportion the houses1 in such comely fashion1 as had been most sightly and convenient4 ,was ,catiline therefore an honest man1 or a good patriot1 that sought to bring it to a combustion8 ,or ,nero a good ,prince1 that did indeed set it on fire8 ,so by the story of ,ezra and the prophecy of ,haggai it may be gathered1 ,sidenote3 ,ezra #c4 #ab4 that the temple built by ,zerubbabel after the return from ,babylon was by no means to be compared to the former built by ,solomon3 for they that remembered the former wept when they considered the latter4 ,notwithstanding might this latter either have been abhorred and forsaken by the ,jews1 or profaned by the ,greeks8 ,the like we are to think of translations4 ,the translation of the ,seventy dissenteth from the ,original in many places1 neither doth it come near it for perspicuity1 gravity1 majesty4 ,yet which of the ,apostles did condemn it8 ,condemn it8 ,nay1 they used it1 7as it is apparent1 and as ,st4 ,hierome and most learned men do confess27 which they would not have done1 nor by their example of using of it so grace and commend it to the ,church1 if it had been unworthy the appellation and name of the word of ,god4 ,and whereas they urge for their second defence of their vilifying and abusing of the ,english ,bibles1 or some pieces thereof1 which they meet with1 for that hereticks forsooth were the authors of the translations3 7hereticks they call us by the same right that they call themselves catholicks1 both being wrong37 we marvel what divinity taught them so4 ,we are sure ,tertullian was of another mind3 ,sidenote3 ,tertull4 de prscript4 contra hreses4 ,ex personis probamus fidem1 an ex fide personas8 ,do we try men's faith by their persons8 ,we should try their persons by their faith4 ,also ,st4 ,augustine was of another mind3 ,sidenote3 ,st4 ,august4 #c4 de doct4 ,christ4 cap4 #cj4 for he1 lighting upon certain rules made by ,tychonius a ,donatist for the better understanding of the word1 was not ashamed to make use of them1 yea1 to insert them into his own book1 with giving commendation to them so far forth as they were worthy to be commended1 as is to be seen in ,st4 ,augustine's third book ,de ,doct4 ,christ4 ,to be short1 ,origen1 and the whole ,church of ,god for certain hundred years1 were of another mind3 for they were so far from treading under foot 7much more from burning7 the translation of ,aquila a proselyte1 that is1 one that had turned ,jew1 of ,symmachus1 and ,theodotion1 both ,ebionites1 that is1 most vile hereticks1 that they joined them together with the ,hebrew original1 and the translation of the ,seventy1 7as hath been before signified out of ,epiphanius17 and set them forth openly to be considered of and perused by all4 ,but we weary the unlearned1 who need not know so much2 and trouble the learned1 who know it already4 ,yet before we end1 we must answer a third cavil and objection of their's against us1 for altering and amending our translations so oft2 wherein truly they deal hardly and strangely with us4 ,for to whom ever was it imputed for a fault1 7by such as were wise17 to go over that which he had done1 and to amend it where he saw cause8 ,sidenote3 ,st4 ,august4 ,epist4 #i4 ,st4 ,august4 lib4 ,retract ,video interdum vitia mea4 ,st4 ,august4 ,epist4 #h4 ,st4 ,augustine was not afraid to exhort ,st4 ,hierome to a ,palinodia or recantation4 ,the same ,st4 ,augustine was not ashamed to retractate1 we might say1 revoke1 many things that had passed him1 and doth even glory that he seeth his infirmities4 ,if we will be sons of the truth1 we must consider what it speaketh1 and trample upon our own credit1 yea1 and upon other men's too1 if either be any way an hindrance to it4 ,this to the cause4 ,then to the persons we say1 that of all men they ought to be most silent in this case4 ,for what varieties have they1 and what alterations have they made1 not only of their service books1 portesses1 and breviaries1 but also of their ,latin translation8 ,the service book supposed to be made by ,st4 ,ambrose1 7,officium ,ambrosianum17 was a great while in special use and request3 but ,pope ,adrian1 ,sidenote3 ,durand4 lib4 #e4 cap4 #b4 calling a council with the aid of ,charles the ,emperor1 abolished it1 yea1 burnt it1 and commanded the service book of ,st4 ,gregory universally to be used4 ,well1 ,officium ,gregorianum gets by this means to be in credit2 but doth it continue without change or altering8 ,no1 the very ,roman service was of two fashions2 the new fashion1 and the old1 the one used in one ,church1 and the other in another2 as is to be seen in ,pamelius a ,romanist1 his preface before ,micrologus4 ,the same ,pamelius reporteth out of ,radulphus de ,rivo1 that about the year of our ,lord #abgg ,pope ,nicolas the ,third removed out of the churches of ,rome the more ancient books 7of service17 and brought into use the missals of the ,friers ,minorites1 and commanded them to be observed there3 insomuch that about an hundred years after1 when the aboved named ,radulphus happened to be at ,rome1 he found all the books to be new1 of the new stamp4 ,neither was there this chopping and changing in the more ancient times only1 but also of late4 ,pius ,quintus himself confesseth1 that every bishoprick almost had a peculiar kind of service1 most unlike to that which others had2 which moved him to abolish all other breviaries1 though never so ancient1 and privileged and published by ,bishops in their ,dioceses1 and to establish and ratify that only which was of his own setting forth in the year #aefh4 ,now when the ,father of their ,church1 who gladly would heal the sore of the daughter of his people softly and slightly1 and make the best of it1 findeth so great fault with them for their odds and jarring2 we hope the children have no great cause to vaunt of their uniformity4 ,but the difference that appeareth between our translations1 and our often correcting of them1 is the thing that we are specially charged with2 let us see therefore whether they themselves be without fault this way1 7if it be to be counted a fault to correct17 and whether they be fit men to throw stones at us3 ,o tandem major parcas insane minori3 ,they that are less sound themselves ought not to object infirmities to others4 ,if we should tell them1 that ,valla1 ,stapulensis1 ,erasmus1 and ,vives1 found fault with their vulgar translation1 and consequently wished the same to be mended1 or a new one to be made2 they would answer peradventure1 that we produced their enemies for witnesses against them2 albeit they were in no other sort enemies1 than as ,st4 ,paul was to the ,galatians1 ,sidenote3 ,gal4 #d4 #af4 for telling them the truth3 and it were to be wished1 that they had dared to tell it them plainlier and oftener4 ,but what will they say to this1 ,that ,pope ,leo the ,tenth allowed ,erasmus' translation of the ,new ,testament1 so much different from the vulgar1 by his apostolick letter and bull8 ,sidenote3 ,sixtus ,senens4 ,that the same ,leo exhorted ,pagnine to translate the whole ,bible1 and bare whatsoever charges was necessary for the work8 ,surely1 as the apostle reasoneth to the ,hebrews1 ,sidenote3 ,heb4 #g4 #aa4 #h4 #g4 that if the former ,law and ,testament had been sufficient1 there had been no need of the latter3 so we may say1 that if the old vulgar had been at all points allowable1 to small purpose had labour and charges been undergone about framing of a new4 ,if they say1 it was one ,pope's private opinion1 and that he consulted only himself2 then we are able to go further with them1 and to aver1 that more of their chief men of all sorts1 even their own ,trent champions1 ,paiva and ,vega1 and their own inquisitor ,hieronymus ab ,oleastro1 and their own ,bishop ,isidorus ,clarius1 and their own ,cardinal ,thomas a vio ,cajetan1 do either make new translations themselves1 or follow new ones of other men's making1 or note the vulgar interpreter for halting1 none of them fear to dissent from him1 nor yet to except against him4 ,and call they this an uniform tenor of text and judgment about the text1 so many of their worthies disclaiming the now received conceit8 ,nay1 we will yet come nearer the quick4 ,sidenote3 ,sixtus #e4 ,prf4 fixa bibliis4 ,doth not their ,paris edition differ from the ,lovain1 and ,hentenius's from them both1 and yet all of them allowed by authority8 ,nay1 doth not ,sixtus ,quintus confess1 that certain ,catholicks 7he meaneth certain of his own side7 were in such an humour of translating the ,scriptures into ,latin1 that ,satan taking occasion by them1 though they thought of no such matter1 did strive what he could1 out of so uncertain and manifold a variety of translations1 so to mingle all things1 that nothing might seem to be left certain and firm in them1 c48 ,nay further1 did not the same ,sixtus ordain by an inviolable decree1 and that with the counsel and consent of his ,cardinals1 that the ,latin edition of the ,old and ,new ,testament1 which the council of ,trent would have to be authentick1 is the same without controversy which he then set forth1 being diligently corrected and printed in the printinghouse of ,vatican8 ,thus ,sixtus in his preface before his ,bible4 ,and yet ,clement the ,eighth1 his immediate successor to account of1 publisheth another edition of the ,bible1 containing in it infinite differences from that of ,sixtus1 and many of them weighty and material2 and yet this must be authentick by all means4 ,what is to have the faith of our glorious ,lord ,jesus ,christ with yea and nay1 if this be not8 ,again1 what is sweet harmony and consent1 if this be8 ,therefore1 as ,demaratus of ,corinth advised a great ,king1 before he talked of the dissensions among the ,grecians1 to compose his domestick broils2 7for at that time his queen and his son and heir were at deadly feud with him7 so all the while that our adversaries do make so many and so various editions themselves1 and do jar so much about the worth and authority of them1 they can with no shew of equity challenge us for changing and correcting4 ,sidenote3 ,the purpose of the ,translators1 with their number1 furniture1 care1 c4 ,but it is high time to leave them1 and to shew in brief what we proposed to ourselves1 and what course we held1 in this our perusal and survey of the ,bible4 ,truly1 good ,christian ,reader1 we never thought from the beginning that we should need to make a new translation1 nor yet to make of a bad one a good one3 7for then the imputation of ,sixtus had been true in some sort1 that our people had been fed with gall of dragons instead of wine1 with wheal instead of milk27 but to make a good one better1 or out of many good ones one principal good one1 not justly to be excepted against2 that hath been our endeavour1 that our mark4 ,to that purpose there were many chosen1 that were greater in other men's eyes than in their own1 and that sought the truth rather than their own praise4 ,again1 they came1 or were thought to come1 to the work1 not exercendi causa1 7as one saith17 but exercitati1 that is1 learned not to learn2 for the chief overseer and under his ,majesty1 to whom not only we1 but also our whole ,church was much bound1 knew by his wisdom1 which thing only ,nazianzen taught so long ago1 ,sidenote3 ,nazianz4 '1 4 ,idem in ,apologet4 that it is a preposterous order to teach first and to learn after2 that to learn and practise together1 is neither commendable for the workman1 nor safe for the work4 ,therefore such were thought upon1 as could say modestly with ,st4 ,hierome1 ,et ,hebrum sermonem ex parte didicimus1 et in ,latino pene ab ipsis incunabulis1 c41 detriti sumus2 ,both we have learned the ,hebrew tongue in part1 and in the ,latin we have been exercised almost from our very cradle4 ,st4 ,hierome maketh no mention of the ,greek tongue1 wherein yet he did excel2 because he translated not the ,old ,testament out of ,greek1 but out of ,hebrew4 ,and in what sort did these assemble8 ,in the trust of their own knowledge1 or of their sharpness of wit1 or deepness of judgment1 as it were in an arm of flesh8 ,at no hand4 ,they trusted in him that hath the key of ,david1 opening1 and no man shutting2 they prayed to the ,lord1 the ,father of our ,lord1 to the effect that ,st4 ,augustine did3 ,sidenote3 ,st4 ,august4 lib4 #aa4 ,confess4 cap4 #b4 ,o let thy ,scriptures be my pure delight2 let me not be deceived in them1 neither let me deceive by them4 ,in this confidence1 and with this devotion1 did they assemble together2 not too many1 lest one should trouble another2 and yet many1 lest many things haply might escape them4 ,if you ask what they had before them2 truly it was the ,hebrew text of the ,old ,testament1 the ,greek of the ,new4 ,these are the two golden pipes1 or rather conduits1 wherethrough the olivebranches empty themselves into the gold4 ,sidenote3 ,st4 ,aug4 #c4 ,de doctr4 cap4 #c41 c4 ,st4 ,hieron4 ad ,suniam et ,fretel4 ,st4 ,hieron4 ad ,lucinium1 ,dist #i4 ,ut veterum4 ,st4 ,augustine calleth them precedent1 or original1 tongues2 ,st4 ,hierome1 fountains4 ,the same ,st4 ,hierome affirmeth1 and ,gratian hath not spared to put it into his decree1 ,that as the credit of the old books 7he meaneth of the ,old ,testament7 is to be tried by the ,hebrew volumes2 so of the new by the ,greek tongue1 he meaneth by the original ,greek4 ,if truth be to be tried by these tongues1 then whence should a translation be made1 but out of them8 ,these tongues therefore 7the ,scriptures1 we say1 in those tongues7 we set before us to translate1 being the tongues wherein ,god was pleased to speak to his ,church by his ,prophets and ,apostles4 ,sidenote3 ,joseph4 ,antiq4 lib4 #ab4 ,neither did we run over the work with that posting haste that the ,septuagint did1 if that be true which is reported of them1 that they finished it in seventy-two days2 neither were we barred or hindered from going over it again1 having once done it1 like ,st4 ,hierome1 ,sidenote3 ,st4 ,hieron4 ad ,pammach4 pro lib4 advers4 ,jovinian4 4 if that be true which himself reporteth1 that he could no sooner write anything1 but presently it was caught from him1 and published1 and he could not have leave to mend it2 neither1 to be short1 were we the first that fell in hand with translating the ,scripture into ,english1 and consequently destitute of former helps1 as it is written of ,origen1 that he was the first in a manner1 that put his hand to write commentaries upon the ,scriptures1 and therefore no marvel if he overshot himself many times4 ,none of these things3 ,the work hath not been huddled up in seventy-two days1 but hath cost the workmen1 as light as it seemeth1 the pains of twice seven times seventy-two days1 and more4 ,matters of such weight and consequence are to be speeded with maturity3 for in a business of moment a man feareth not the blame of convenient slackness4 ,neither did we think much to consult the translators or commentators1 ,sidenote3 ' 1 ,sophocl4 in ,elect4 ,chaldee1 ,hebrew1 ,syrian1 ,greek1 or ,latin2 no1 nor the ,spanish1 ,french1 ,italian1 or ,dutch2 neither did we disdain to revise that which we had done1 and to bring back to the anvil that which we had hammered3 but having and using as great helps as were needful1 and fearing no reproach for slowness1 nor coveting praise for expedition1 we have at length1 through the good hand of the ,lord upon us1 brought the work to that pass that you see4 ,sidenote3 ,reasons moving us to set diversity of senses in the margin1 where there is great probability for each4 4 ,some peradventure would have no variety of senses to be set in the margin1 lest the authority of the ,scriptures for deciding of controversies by that shew of uncertainty should somewhat be shaken4 ,but we hold their judgment not to be so sound in this point4 ,for though whatsoever things are necessary are manifest1 as ,st4 ,chrysostome saith2 ,sidenote3 ,st4 ,chrysost4 in #b ,thess4 cap4 #b4 ,st4 ,aug4 #b4 ,de doctr4 ,christ1 c4 #i4 and1 as ,st4 ,augustine1 in those things that are plainly set down in the ,scriptures all such matters are found1 that concern faith1 hope1 and charity3 ,yet for all that it cannot be dissembled1 that partly to exercise and whet our wits1 partly to wean the curious from lothing of them for their every where plainness1 partly also to stir up our devotion to crave the assistance of ,god's ,spirit by prayer1 and lastly1 that we might be forward to seek aid of our brethren by conference1 and never scorn those that be not in all respects so complete as they should be1 being to seek in many things1 ourselves1 it hath pleased ,god in his ,divine ,providence here and there to scatter words and sentences of that difficulty and doubtfulness1 not in doctrinal points that concern salvation1 7for in such it hath been vouched that the ,scriptures are plain17 but in matters of less moment1 that fearfulness would better beseem us than confidence1 and if we will resolve1 to resolve upon modesty with ,st4 ,augustine1 ,sidenote3 ,st4 ,august4 lib4 #h4 ,de ,gen4 ad liter4 cap4 #e4 7though not in this same case altogether1 yet upon the same ground17 ,melius est dubitare de occultis1 quam litigare de incertis3 ,it is better to make doubt of those things which are secret1 than to strive about those things that are uncertain4 ,sidenote3 4 ,there be many words in the ,scriptures1 which be never found there but once1 7having neither brother nor neighbour1 as the ,hebrews speak17 so that we cannot be holpen by conference of places4 ,again1 there be many rare names of certain birds1 beasts1 and precious stones1 c4 concerning which the ,hebrews themselves are so divided among themselves for judgment1 that they may seem to have defined this or that1 rather because they would say something1 than because they were sure of that which they said1 ,sidenote3 ,hier4 in ,ezek4 cap4 #c4 as ,st4 ,hierome somewhere saith of the ,septuagint4 ,now in such a case doth not a margin do well to admonish the ,reader to seek further1 and not to conclude or dogmatize upon this or that peremptorily8 ,for as it is a fault of incredulity1 to doubt of those things that are evident2 so to determine of such things as the ,spirit of ,god hath left 7even in the judgment of the judicious7 questionable1 can be no less than presumption4 ,sidenote3 ,st4 ,aug4 #b4 ,de doctr4 ,christ4 c4 #a4 ,therefore as ,st4 ,augustine saith1 that variety of translations is profitable for the finding out of the sense of the ,scriptures3 so diversity of signification and sense in the margin1 where the text is not so clear1 must needs do good2 yea1 is necessary1 as we are persuaded4 ,sidenote3 ,sixtus #e4 ,prf4 ,bibl4 ,we know that ,sixtus ,quintus expressly forbiddeth that any variety of readings of their vulgar edition should be put in the margin2 7which though it be not altogether the same thing to that we have in hand1 yet it looketh that way27 but we think he hath not all of his own side his favourers for this conceit4 ,they that are wise had rather have their judgments at liberty in differences of readings1 than to be captivated to one1 when it may be the other4 ,sidenote3 ,plat4 in ,paulo secundo4 ,if they were sure that their high priest had all laws shut up in his breast1 as ,paul the ,second bragged1 and that he were as free from error by special privilege1 as the dictators of ,rome were made by law inviolable1 it were another matter2 then his word were an oracle1 his opinion a decision4 ,sidenote3 ' 4 ,but the eyes of the world are now open1 ,god be thanked1 and have been a great while2 they find that he is subject to the same affections and infirmities that others be1 that his body is subject to wounds2 and therefore so much as he proveth1 not as much as he claimeth1 they grant and embrace4 ,sidenote3 ,reasons inducing us not to stand curiously upon an identity of phrasing4 ,another thing we think good to admonish thee of1 gentle ,reader1 that we have not tied ourselves to an uniformity of phrasing1 or to an identity of words1 as some peradventure would wish that we had done1 because they observe1 that some learned men somewhere have been as exact as they could that way4 ,truly1 that we might not vary from the sense of that which we had translated before1 if the word signified the same thing in both places1 ,sidenote3 4 7for there be some words that be not of the same sense every where17 we were especially careful1 and made a conscience1 according to our duty4 ,but that we should express the same notion in the same particular word2 as for example1 if we translate the ,hebrew or ,greek word once by purpose1 never to call it intent2 if one where journeying1 never travelling2 if one where think1 never suppose2 if one where pain1 never ache2 if one where joy1 never gladness1 c4 thus to mince the matter1 we thought to savour more of curiosity than wisdom1 and that rather it would breed scorn in the atheist1 than bring profit to the godly reader4 ,for is the kingdom of ,god become words or syllables8 ,why should we be in bondage to them1 if we may be free8 use one precisely1 when we may use another no less fit as commodiously8 ,sidenote3 ,abed4 ,niceph4 ,calist4 lib4 #h4 cap4 #db4 ,st4 ,hieron4 in #d ,jon4 ,see ,st4 ,aug4 ,epist4 #aj4 ,a godly ,father in the primitive time shewed himself greatly moved1 that one of newfangledness called 1 1 though the difference be little or none2 and another reporteth1 that he was much abused for turning cucurbita 7to which reading the people had been used7 into hedera4 ,now if this happen in better times1 and upon so small occasions1 we might justly fear hard censure1 if generally we should make verbal and unnecessary changings4 ,we might also be charged 7by scoffers7 with some unequal dealing towards a great number of good ,english words4 ,for as it is written of a certain great ,philosopher1 that he should say1 that those logs were happy that were made images to be worshipped2 for their fellows1 as good as they1 lay for blocks behind the fire3 so if we should say1 as it were1 unto certain words1 ,stand up higher1 have a place in the ,bible always2 and to others of like quality1 ,get you hence1 be banished for ever2 we might be taxed peradventure with ,st4 ,james's words1 namely1 ,to be partial in ourselves1 and judges of evil thoughts4 ,sidenote3 4 4 ,see ,euseb4 4 lib4 #b4 ex ,plat4 ,add hereunto1 that niceness in words was always counted the next step to trifling2 and so was to be curious about names too3 also that we cannot follow a better pattern for elocution than ,god himself2 therefore he using divers words in his holy writ1 and indifferently for one thing in nature3 we1 if we will not be superstitious1 may use the same liberty in our ,english versions out of ,hebrew and ,greek1 for that copy or store that he hath given us4 ,lastly1 we have on the one side avoided the scrupulosity of the ,puritanes1 who leave the old ,ecclesiastical words1 and betake them to other1 as when they put washing for baptism1 and congregation instead of ,church3 as also on the other side we have shunned the obscurity of the ,papists1 in their azymes1 tunike1 rational1 holocausts1 prepuce1 pasche1 and a number of such like1 whereof their late translation is full1 and that of purpose to darken the sense1 that since they must needs translate the ,bible1 yet by the language thereof it may be kept from being understood4 ,but we desire that the ,scripture may speak like itself1 as in the language of ,canaan1 that it may be understood even of the very vulgar4 ,many other things we might give thee warning of1 gentle ,reader1 if we had not exceeded the measure of a preface already4 ,it remaineth that we commend thee to ,god1 and to the ,spirit of his grace1 which is able to build further than we can ask or think4 ,he removeth the scales from our eyes1 the vail from our hearts1 opening our wits that we may understand his word1 enlarging our hearts1 yea1 correcting our affections1 that we may love it above gold and silver1 yea1 that we may love it to the end4 ,sidenote3 ,gen4 #bf4 #ae4 ,ye are brought unto fountains of living water which ye digged not2 do not cast earth into them1 with the ,philistines1 neither prefer broken pits before them1 with the wicked ,jews4 ,sidenote3 ,jer4 #b4 #ac4 ,others have laboured1 and you may enter into their labours4 ,o receive not so great things in vain3 ,o despise not so great salvation4 ,be not like swine to tread under foot so precious things1 neither yet like dogs to tear and abuse holy things4 ,say not to our ,saviour with the ,gergesites1 ,sidenote3 ,matt4 #h4 #ce4 ,heb4 #ab4 #af4 ,depart out of our coasts2 neither with ,esau sell your birthright for a mess of pottage4 ,if light be come into the world1 love not darkness more than light3 if food1 if clothing1 be offered1 go not naked1 starve not yourselves4 ,sidenote3 ,nazianz4 4 1 4 ,remember the advice of ,nazianzene1 ,it is a grievous thing 7or dangerous7 to neglect a great fair1 and to seek to make markets afterwards3 also the encouragement of ,st4 ,chrysostome1 ,it is altogether impossible1 that he that is sober 7and watchful7 should at any time be neglected3 lastly1 the admonition and menancing of ,st4 ,augustine1 ,they that despise ,god's will inviting them shall feel ,god's will taking vengeance of them4 ,sidenote3 ,st4 ,chrysost4 in ,epist4 ad ,rom4 c4 #ad4 ,it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living ,god2 ,sidenote3 orat4 #bf4 in 4 1 4 but a blessed thing it is1 and will bring us to everlasting blessedness in the end1 when ,god speaketh unto us1 to hearken2 when he setteth his word before us1 to read it2 when he stretcheth out his hand and calleth1 to answer1 ,here am ,i1 here we are to do thy will1 ,o ,god4 ,sidenote3 ,st4 ,august1 ad artic4 sibi falso object4 ,art4 #af4 ,heb4 #aj4 #ca4 ,the ,lord work a care and conscience in us to know him and serve him1 that we may be acknowledged of him at the appearing of our ,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 to whom with the ,holy ,ghost be all praise and thanksgiving4 ,amen4 7,g47 ,,the ,,revisers ,,of ,a4,d4 #aefh4 ,the twelve bishops who are mentioned as taking part with ,archbishop ,parker in this revision1 are3 ,william ,alley1 ,bishop of ,exeter4 ,william ,barlow1 ,bishop of ,chichester4 ,thomas ,bentham1 ,bishop of ,coventry and ,lichfield4 ,nicholas ,bullingham1 ,bishop of ,lincoln4 ,richard ,cox1 ,bishop of ,ely4 ,richard ,davies1 ,bishop of ,st4 ,davids 7,menevensis74 ,edmund ,grindal1 ,bishop of ,london4 ,edmund ,guest 7or ,geste71 ,bishop of ,rochester4 ,robert ,horne1 ,bishop of ,winchester4 ,john ,parkhurst1 ,bishop of ,norwich4 ,edwin ,sandys1 ,bishop of ,worcester4 ,edmund ,scambler1 ,bishop of ,peterborough4 ,the other church dignitaries who are mentioned are3 ,andrew ,pearson1 ,canon of ,canterbury4 ,andrew ,perne1 ,prebendary of ,ely4 ,thomas ,beacon1 ,prebendary of ,canterbury4 ,gabriel ,goodman1 ,dean of ,westminster4 ,at the end of sixteen of the books are placed initials1 which are evidently those of the revisers4 ,these1 with more or less of certainty1 have been identified with names given in the above list4#adg ,they are as follows1 and in the following order3 ,deuteronomy ,w4 ,e4 ,bishop of ,exeter4 #b ,samuel ,r4 ,m4 ,bishop of ,st4 ,davids4 #b ,chronicles ,e4 ,w4 ,bishop of ,worcester4 ,job ,a4 ,p4 ,c ,andrew ,pearson4 ,psalms#adh ,t4 ,b4 ,thomas ,beacon4 ,proverbs ,a4 ,p4 ,c ,andrew ,pearson4 ,canticles ,a4 ,p4 ,e ,andrew ,perne4 ,lamentations ,r4 ,w4 ,bishop of ,winchester4 ,daniel ,t4 ,c4,l4 ,bishop of ,coventry and ,lichfield4 ,malachi ,e4 ,l4 ,bishop of ,london4 ,wisdom ,w4 ,c4 ,bishop of ,chichester4 #b ,maccabees ,j4 ,n4 ,bishop of ,norwich4 ,acts ,r4 ,e4 ,bishop of ,ely4 ,romans ,r4 ,e4 ,bishop of ,ely4 #a ,corinthians ,g4 ,g4 ,gabriel ,goodman4 ,from a list of the revisers1 enclosed in a letter from ,parker to ,cecil1 dated ,october #eth1 #aefh1 and now in the ,state ,paper ,office1 we may further gather that the ,catholic ,epistles and the ,apocalypse were revised by ,bishop ,bullingham1 the ,gospels of ,luke and ,john by ,bishop ,scambler1 and that the portions undertaken by ,parker himself were ,genesis1 ,exodus1 ,matthew1 ,mark1 and the ,epistles from #b ,corinthians to ,hebrews inclusive4#adi 7,h47 ,,the ,,revisers ,,of #afaa4 ,in the collection of ,records appended to the ,second ,part of ,bishop ,burnet's ,history of the ,reformation of the ,church of ,england1 there is given a list of the ,revisers of #afaa1 copied1 as the writer tells us1#aej from the paper of ,bishop ,ravis himself1 one of the number4 ,the list is thus given3#aea ,,westminster 7#a74 ,mr4 ,dean of ,westminster1 ,mr4 ,dean of ,pauls1 ,mr4 ,doctor ,saravia1 ,mr4 ,doctor ,clark1 ,mr4 ,doctor ,leifield1 ,mr4 ,doctor ,teigh1 ,mr4 ,burleigh1 ,mr4 ,king1 ,mr4 ,tompson1 ,mr4 ,beadwell4 ,,cambridge 7#a74 ,mr4 ,livelye1 ,mr4 ,richardson1 ,mr4 ,chatterton1 ,mr4 ,dillingham1 ,mr4 ,harrison1 ,mr4 ,andrews1 ,mr4 ,spalding1 ,mr4 ,burge4 ,,oxford 7#a74 ,doctor ,harding1 ,dr4 ,reynolds1 ,dr4 ,holland1 ,dr4 ,kilbye1 ,mr4 ,smith1 ,mr4 ,brett1 ,mr4 ,fairclough4 ,,cambridge 7#b74 ,doctor ,dewport1 ,dr4 ,branthwait1 ,dr4 ,radclife1 ,mr4 ,ward 7,eman471 ,mr4 ,downes1 ,mr4 ,boyes1 ,mr4 ,warde 7,reg474 ,,oxford 7#b74 ,mr4 ,dean of ,christchurch1 ,mr4 ,dean of ,winchester1 ,mr4 ,dean of ,worcester1 ,mr4 ,dean of ,windsor1 ,mr4 ,sairle1 ,dr4 ,perne1 ,dr4 ,ravens1 ,mr4 ,haviner4#aeb ,,westminster 7#b74 ,dean of ,chester1 ,dr4 ,hutchinson1 ,dr4 ,spencer1 ,mr4 ,fenton1 ,mr4 ,rabbet1 ,mr4 ,sanderson1 ,mr4 ,dakins4 ,some difference of opinion has existed in reference to the date of this document4 ,its date is determined within comparatively narrow limits by internal evidence4 ,the writer1 ,dr4 ,ravis1 describes himself as ,dean of ,christ ,church2 it must therefore have been written before ,march #ai1 #afje1 when he was consecrated ,bishop of ,gloucester4 ,he also refers to the ,dean of ,worcester 7,dr4 ,eedes71 who died ,november1 #afjd1 and hence he may be assumed to have written before that date also4 ,the difficulty is that he describes ,dr4 ,barlow1 who is known to have taken part in the work1 as ,dean of ,chester1 and it must therefore have been written after ,barlow's appointment of this office4 ,this appointment1 as stated by ,cardwell1 took place in ,december1 #afjd2aec but the correctness of that date is open to some doubt4#aed ,the names contained in the above given list have1 with some few exceptions1 been satisfactorily identified2 namely1 as follows3 ,,first ,,westminster ,,company4 ,dr4 ,launcelot ,andrews1 ,dean of ,westminster4#aee ,dr4 ,john ,overall1 ,dean of ,st4 ,paul's4#aef ,dr4 ,adrian de ,saravia4 ,dr4 ,richard ,clark1 ,fellow of ,christ's ,college1 ,cambridge4 ,dr4 ,john ,layfield1 ,fellow of ,trinity ,college1 ,cambridge4 ,dr4 ,robert ,tighe1 ,vicar of ,all ,hallows1 ,barking4 ,dr4 ,francis ,burley1 ,fellow of ,king ,james's ,college1 ,chelsea4 ,mr4 ,geoffry ,king1 ,fellow of ,king's ,college1 ,cambridge4#aeg ,mr4 ,richard ,thomson1 ,clare ,hall1 ,cambridge4 ,mr4 ,william ,bedwell1 ,vicar of ,tottenham4 ,,first ,,cambridge ,,company4 ,mr4 ,edward ,lively1#aeh ,regius ,professor of ,hebrew1 ,cambridge4 ,mr4 ,john ,richardson1#aei ,fellow of ,emmanuel ,college1 ,cambridge4 ,mr4 ,laurence ,chaderton1 ,master of ,emmanuel ,college1 ,cambridge4 ,mr4 ,f4 ,dillingham1 ,fellow of ,christ's ,college1 ,cambridge4 ,mr4 ,thomas ,harrison1 ,fellow of ,trinity ,college1 ,cambridge4 ,mr4 ,roger ,andrews4#afj ,mr4 ,robert ,spalding1#afa ,fellow of ,st4 ,john's ,college1 ,cambridge4 ,mr4 ,andrew ,byng1 ,fellow of ,peter ,house4 ,,first ,,oxford ,,company4 ,dr4 ,john ,harding1 ,regius ,professor of ,hebrew1 and ,president of ,magdalen4 ,dr4 ,john ,rainolds1 ,president of ,corpus ,christi ,college4 ,dr4 ,thomas ,holland1#afb ,regius ,professor of ,divinity4 ,dr4 ,richard ,kilbye1 ,rector of ,lincoln ,college1 ,oxford4 ,dr4 ,miles ,smith1#afc ,brasenose ,college1 ,oxford4 ,dr4 ,richard ,brett1 ,fellow of ,lincoln ,college1 ,oxford4 ,mr4 ,richard ,fairclough1 ,fellow of ,new ,college1 ,oxford4 ,,the ,,second ,,cambridge ,,company4 ,dr4 ,john ,duport1 ,master of ,jesus ,college4 ,dr4 ,william ,branthwaite1 ,master of ,caius ,college4 ,dr4 ,jeremiah ,radcliffe1 ,fellow of ,trinity ,college4 ,mr4 ,samuel ,ward1 ,fellow of ,emmanuel ,college4#afd ,mr4 ,andrew ,downes1 ,regius ,professor of ,greek4 ,mr4 ,john ,bois1 ,fellow of ,st4 ,john's1 and ,rector of ,boxworth4 ,mr4 ,ward1 ,fellow of ,king's ,college4#afe ,,the ,,second ,,oxford ,,company4 ,dr4 ,thomas ,ravis1 ,dean of ,christ ,church4#aff ,dr4 ,george ,abbot1 ,dean of ,winchester4#afg ,dr4 ,richard ,eedes1 ,dean of ,worcester4#afh ,dr4 ,giles ,thomson1 ,dean of ,windsor4 ,mr4 ,henry ,saville1#afi ,warden of ,merton and ,provost of ,eton4 ,dr4 ,john ,perin1 ,fellow of ,st4 ,john's ,college4 ,dr4 ,ralph ,ravens1 ,fellow of ,st4 ,john's ,college4 ,dr4 ,john ,harmer1 ,regius ,professor of ,greek4 ,to these1 ,wood1 who does not mention the names of either ,eedes or ,ravens1 in the list given in his ,history of the ,university of ,oxford1 adds the following two2 they were probably appointed to take the places of some removed by death3 ,dr4 ,john ,aglionby1#agj ,principal of ,edmunds ,hall4 ,dr4 ,leonard ,hutten1#aga ,canon of ,christ ,church4 ,,the ,,second ,,westminster ,,company4 ,dr4 ,william ,barlow1 ,dean of ,chester4 ,dr4 ,hutchinson4 787 ,dr4 ,john ,spenser1 ,chaplain to ,king ,james4#agb ,mr4 ,roger ,fenton1 ,pembroke ,hall1 ,oxford4 ,mr4 ,michael ,rabbett1 ,rector of ,st4 ,vedast1 ,foster ,lane4 ,mr4 ,thomas ,sanderson1 ,rector of ,all ,hallows4 ,mr4 ,william ,dakins1 ,fellow of ,trinity ,college1 ,cambridge4 ,,note ,,to ,,page #aag4 ,,dean ,,stanley 7,historical ,memorials of ,westminster ,abbey1 p4 #ddj7 states generally that the ,assembly of ,divines removed from ,henry ,,vii4's ,chapel to the ,jerusalem ,chamber at the end of ,september4 ,the exact date is1 as stated in the text1 ,october #bnd4 ,in the ,minutes of the ,sessions of the ,assembly1 preserved in ,dr4 ,williams's ,library1 there occurs at the close of the sixty-fifth session the entry1 8,adjourned to the ,hierusalem ,chamber on ,monday1 at ten o'clock10 and the following session1 the sixty-sixth1 is dated ,monday1 ,october #bnd4 ,the permission to adjourn to the ,jerusalem ,chamber from ,henry ,,vii4's ,chapel1 8on account of the coldness of the said chapel10 was granted by ,parliament on ,september #bast1 #afdc4 ,,index4 ,a4 ,abbot1 ,dr4 ,ezra1 #aae lfric's ,heptateuch1 #ab1 #ac ,aiken1 ,dr4 ,c4 ,a41 #aae ,ainsworth1 ,h41 his ,commentaries1 #aja ,aldhelm1 ,bishop of ,sherborne1 #aa ,alexander1 ,dr4 ,w4 ,l41 #aji ,alexandrine ,manuscript1 #hc ,alford1 ,dean1 #ajd1 #ajg1 #aaj1 #aab1 #abe ,alfred1 ,king1 #ab ,allen1 ,archdeacon1 #ajg ,andrews1 ,dr4 ,launcelot1 #da ,anglo-,saxon ,gospel1 #ab ,angus1 ,dr4 ,jos41 #aaj1 #abe ,authorized ,version1 first suggestion of1 #dj ---- ordered by ,king ,james1 #da ---- a revision1 not a translation1 #de ---- rules followed by the revisers1 #db-dd ---- misprints in1 #ed ---- obsolete words in1 #eg-ei ---- imperfect renderings of1 #fb ---- preface to1 #aii ---- list of its revisors1 #bcg ,b4 ,bancroft1 ,archbishop1 #da1 #de ,barrow1 ,dr4 ,john1 #ajd ,bede1 #aa ,bensley1 ,mr4 ,r4 ,n41 #aaa ,bentley1 ,dr4 ,richard1 his proposals for revised texts of the ,greek ,new ,testament and of the ,vulgate1 #ajj ,beza's ,codex1 #hc ,beza1 ,theodore1 his edition of the ,greek ,new ,testament1 #hd1 #hf ,biber1 ,dr4 ,g4 ,f41 #ajc ,bible1 earliest form of1 #d ---- ,authorized ,version of1 #ci ---- ,bishops'1 #cj1 #cg1 #ci ---- ,coverdale's1 #ah1 #cf ---- ,douai1 #cc1 #ch ---- ,genevan1 #bf1 #cg1 #ci ---- ,great1 #ba1 #cf ---- ,matthew's1 #bj ---- ,purvey's1 #ae1 #cf ---- ,taverner's1 #bb ---- ,wycliffe's1 #ac1 #ad1 #ce ,bickersteth1 ,dean1 #ajg1 #aaj1 #abe ,bilson1 ,bishop1 #di ,birrell1 ,rev4 ,j41 #aaa ,bishops' ,bible1 #cj1 #cg1 #ci ,bishops' ,bible1 preface thereto1 #agg ---- translators of1 #bce ,blakesley1 ,dean1 #ajfn1 #ajg1 #aaj1 #abe ,bodley1 ,john1 bears the expenses of the ,genevan ,bible1 #cjn ,bois1 ,john1 #df1 #di ,broughton1 ,hugh1 #ib ,brown1 ,dr4 ,david1 #aab1 #abe ,browne1 ,dr4 ,e4 ,h4 7,bishop of ,winchester71 #ajfn1 #ajg1 #aji ,c4 ,chambers1 ,dr4 ,t4 ,w41 #aae ,chance1 ,dr4 ,f41 #aaa ,chenery1 ,professor1 #aji ,cheyne1 ,rev4 ,t4 ,k41 #aaa ,claromontane ,manuscript1 #hc ,clergymen1 ,five1 their revision of the ,gospel of ,john1 #ajd ,collation of ,manuscripts1 #hb ,complutensian ,polyglot1 #hd ,conant1 ,dr4 ,t4 ,j41 #aad ,coverdale1 first edition of his ,bible1 #ah ---- his ,prologue thereto1 #afj ---- prepares the ,great ,bible1 #ba ---- issues a second and other editions of the ,great ,bible1 #bc ---- a refugee at ,geneva1 #bg ,cranmer1 his opinion of ,matthew's ,bible1 #bjn ---- his ,prologue to the second edition of the ,great ,bible1 #bc ,cromwell1 ,thomas1 patron of ,coverdale1 #ah ---- promotes the preparation of the ,great ,bible1 #bc ,crooks1 ,dr4 ,g4 ,r41 #aae1 #aaf ,d4 ,davidson1 ,dr4 ,a4 ,b41 #aji ,davies1 ,dr4 ,b41 #aji ,day1 ,dr4 ,g4 ,e41 #aad ,de ,witt1 ,dr4 ,j41 #aad ,dort1 ,synod of1 #dd1 #di ,douglas1 ,dr4 ,g41 #aaa ,downes1 ,a41 #di ,driver1 ,mr4 ,s4 ,r41 #aaa ,e4 ,eadie1 ,dr4 ,j41 #aaj1 #aab ,ellicott1 ,bishop1 #ajd1 #aje1 #aaj1 #abe ,elliott1 ,rev4 ,c4 ,j41 #aab ,ephraem ,codex1 #hc ,erasmus1 his editions of the ,greek ,new ,testament1 #he ,f4 ,fairbairn1 ,dr4 ,p41 #aji ,field1 ,dr4 ,f41 #aji ,g4 ,geddes1 ,dr4 ,a41 his projected translation of the ,bible1 #ih ,geden1 ,professor1 #aab ,gell1 ,r41 his essay upon the amendment of the ,authorized ,version1 #ic ,genevan ,bible1 #bf-cj1 #cg ---- popularity of1 #cb1 #eb ---- preface to1 #agb ,genevan ,psalter1 #bg ,genevan ,new ,testament1 #bh1 #bi ,ginsburg1 ,dr41 #aji ,gotch1 ,dr4 ,f4 ,w41 #aji ,green1 ,dr4 ,w4 ,h41 #aad ,gutenberg ,bible1 #agn ,guthlac of ,croyland1 #aa1 #ab ,h4 ,hackett1 ,dr4 ,h4 ,b41 #aae1 #aaf ,hadley1 ,dr4 ,j41 #aae1 #aaf ,hampton ,court ,conference1 #dj ,harding1 ,dr4 ,j41 #da ,hare1 ,dr4 ,g4 ,e41 #aad ,harrison1 ,archdeacon1 #aji ,harwood1 ,e41 his translation of the ,new ,testament1 #ign ,hereford1 ,nicholas de1 #ad ,hervey1 ,bishop1 #ajg ,heywood1 ,james1 his motion in the ,house of ,commons for a new revision1 #ajc ,hodge1 ,dr4 ,c41 #aae1 #aaf ,holbein1 his design for title-page of ,great ,bible1 #bbn ,hort1 ,dr4 ,f4 ,j4 ,a41 #aaj1 #abj1 #abe ,humphry1 ,prebendary1 #ajd1 #aaj1 #abe ,i4 ,itala1 ,the1 #i ,j4 ,jebb1 ,dr4 ,j41 #ajfn1 #ajg1 #aji ,jerome1 revises the old ,latin version1 #i ---- translates ,old ,testament1 #i ,jerusalem ,chamber1 #aag1 #abg1 #bdb ,jessey1 ,henry1 his attempted revision of ,authorized ,version1 #ie ,johnson1 ,anthony1 his ,historical ,account1 #bgn ,k4 ,kay1 ,dr4 ,w41 #ajfn1 #ajg1 #aji ,kendrick1 ,dr4 ,a4 ,c41 #aae ,kennedy1 ,canon1 #aaj1 #abe ,kennicott1 ,dr4 ,b41 #ajj ,kilbie1 ,dr4 ,r41 #dg ,krauth1 ,dr4 ,c4 ,p41 #aae ,l4 ,latin ,versions1 #h1 #i ,lawrence1 ,t41 his notes of errors in the ,bishops' ,bible1 #cb ,leathes1 ,dr4 ,s41 #aji ,lee1 ,archdeacon1 #aaj1 #abe ,lee1 ,dr4 ,a41 #aae ,lewis1 ,dr4 ,t41 #aae ,lewis1 ,john1 his ,history of the ,english ,bible1 #da1 #din ,lightfoot1 ,dr4 ,j41 urges upon ,parliament the revision of the ,english ,bible1 #ib ,lightfoot1 ,dr4 ,j4 ,b4 7,bishop of ,durham71 #aja1 #aaj1 #abe ,lindisfarne ,gospels1 #abn ,lively1 ,ed41 #da ,lumby1 ,rev4 ,j4 ,r41 #aab ,lyra1 ,nicholas de1 #ag ,m4 ,mace1 ,w41 his ,greek and ,english ,new ,testament1 #if ,marsh1 ,bishop1 on the ,authorized ,version1 #ajb ,manuscripts of the ,new ,testament1 #hj ,mazarin ,bible1 #agn ,mc,gill1 ,professor1 #aji ,mead1 ,dr4 ,c4 ,m41 #aae ,merivale1 ,dean1 #aab1 #abe ,mill1 ,dr4 ,j41 #ii ,milligan1 ,dr4 ,w41 #aaj1 #abe ,moberly1 ,bishop1 #ajd1 #aaj1 #abe ,moulton1 ,dr4 ,w4 ,f41 #aaa1 #abe ,mnster1 ,sebastian1 #bb1 #ca ,n4 ,newcome1 ,archbishop1 his revised ,new ,testament1 #ih ,newth1 ,dr41 #aaa1 #abe ,o4 ,ollivant1 ,bishop1 #aje1 #ajfn1 #ajg1 #aji ,ormulum1 ,the1 #ac ,osgood1 ,dr4 ,h41 #aae ,p4 ,packard1 ,dr4 ,j41 #aae ,pagninus1 his ,latin translation1 #ai1 #can ,palmer1 ,archdeacon1 #aab1 #abe ,parker1 ,archbishop1 superintends the preparation of the ,bishops' ,bible1 #cj-cb ---- his letter to ,cecil1 #cjn ,payne ,smith1 ,dean1 #aaj ,penn1 ,grenville1 his revised text and translation of ,new ,testament1 #ii ,perowne1 ,dean1 #aaj ,plumptre1 ,dr4 ,e4 ,h41 #aaj ,printed ,bible1 the first1 #ag ,printing1 invention of1 #ag ,psalter1 ,genevan1 #bg ---- ,guthlac's1 #aan ---- ,prayer ,book1 #in1 #ci ---- ,rolle's1 #ac ---- ,schorham's1 #ac ,purver1 ,a41 his translation of the ,bible1 #ig ,purvey1 ,john1 ,wycliffe's friend and fellow-labourer1 #ae ,q4 ,quotations in early ,christian ,writings1 #hg-hi ,r4 ,rainolds1 ,dr4 ,j41 moves for a new revision1 #dj ,rainolds1 ,dr4 ,j41 appointed one of ,king ,james's revisers1 #dg ---- works at the revision on his death-bed1 #dg ,revisers1 the ,american1 #aad1 #aaf ---- of #aefh1 #bce ---- of #afaa1 #bcg ---- of #ahha1 #aji-aab ,riddle1 ,dr4 ,m4 ,b41 #aae ,roberts1 ,dr4 ,a41 #aaa ,rogers1 ,john1 the probable editor of ,matthew's ,bible1 #bj ,rolle1 ,richard1 #ac ,rose1 ,archdeacon1 #ajfn1 #ajg1 #aaj ,rossi1 ,j4 ,b4 de1 #ajj ,s4 ,sayce1 ,rev4 ,a4 ,h41 #aab ,schaff1 ,dr4 ,philip1 #aad1 #aae ,scholefield1 ,professor1 on an improved translation of the ,new ,testament1 #ajb ,schorham1 ,w4 de1 #ac ,scott1 ,dean1 #aaa1 #abe ,scribes1 primary function of1 #c ,scrivener1 ,dr4 ,f4 ,h41 #ef1 #ajj1 #aaa1 #abj1 #abe ,selwyn1 ,canon1 #ajc1 #ajg1 #aaj ,septuagint ,version1 #f ,short1 ,dr4 ,c41 #aae ,sinaitic ,manuscript1 #hb ,smith1 ,dr4 ,g4 ,vance1 #aaa1 #abe ,smith1 ,dr4 ,h4 ,b41 #aae1 #aaf ,smith1 ,dr4 ,j4 ,pye1 his testimony in favour of revision1 #aja ,smith1 ,dr4 ,miles1 #dg1 #di ,smith1 ,professor1 ,w4 ,r41 #aab ,stanley1 ,dean1 #ajg1 #aaa1 #abe ,stephen1 ,robert1 his editions of the ,greek ,new ,testament1 #he ,stephen1 ,henry1 #hfn ,stowe1 ,dr4 ,c4 ,e41 #aae ,strong1 ,dr4 ,j41 #aae ,syriac ,version1 #h1 #hg ,t4 ,taverner1 ,john1 #bbn ,taverner1 ,richard1 #bb ,testament1 ,new1 ,genevan1 #bh ---- ,rheims1 #cc ---- ,tyndale's1 #ah ---- ,whittingham's1 #be ---- ,see 8,bible0 ,thayer1 ,dr4 ,j4 ,h41 #aae ,thirlwall1 ,bishop1 #aje1 #ajf1 #aaj ,tischendorf1 ,dr4 ,c41 #ajj ,transcription1 errors of1 #c ,tregelles1 ,dr4 ,s4 ,p41 #ajj1 #ajin ,trench1 ,archbishop1 #aaa1 #abe ,tyndale1 ,w41 his translations1 #ah ---- his ,prologue to ,new ,testament1 #acg ---- his ,epistle to the ,reader1 #aeb ---- his ,preface to the ,pentateuch1 #aed ,u4 ,ussher1 ,a41 his revised version1 #idn ,v4 ,vatican ,manuscript1 #hc ,van ,dyke1 ,dr4 ,c4 ,v4 ,a41 #aae ,vaughan1 ,dean1 #aaa1 #abe ,version1 thiopic1 #hg ---- ,armenian1 #hg ---- ,gothic1 #hg ---- ,italic1 #h ---- ,memphitic1 #hg ---- ,old ,latin1 #h ---- ,septuagint1 #f ---- ,syriac1 #h ---- ,thebaic1 #hg ,vulgate1 #i ,w4 ,wakefield1 ,g41 his translation of the ,new ,testament1 #ih ,walker1 ,anthony1 his ,life of ,bois1 #dfn1 #din ,walton's ,polyglot1 #ii ,ward1 ,dr4 ,s41 #ddn ,ward1 ,t41 his ,errata to the ,protestant ,bible1 #ccn1 #ic ,warren1 ,dr4 ,w4 ,f41 #aae1 #aaf ,weir1 ,dr4 ,d4 ,h41 #aab ,wemyss1 ,t41 his ,reasons in favour of a new translation1 #ajb ,westcott1 ,canon1 #bbn1 #dan1 #aaa1 #abe ,whittingham's ,new ,testament1 #be ---- his version and the ,genevan compared1 #bh1 #bi ,wicked ,bible1 #edn ,wilberforce1 ,bishop1 #aje1 #ajf1 #aaa1 #abe ,woolsey1 ,dr4 ,t4 ,d41 #aae ,wordsworth1 ,dr4 ,christopher 7,bishop of ,lincoln71 #ajg1 #aaj ,wordsworth1 ,dr4 ,charles 7,bishop of ,st4 ,andrews71 #aab1 #abe ,worsley1 ,j41 his translation of the ,new ,testament1 #ig ,wright1 ,dr4 ,w41 #ajin1 #aab ,wright1 ,mr4 ,w4 ,a41 #aaj1 #aac ,wycliffe1 ,john1 #ac1 #ad ---- his ,bible1 #af1 #ce ---- preface to his ,bible1 #abi ,z4 ,zurich ,bible1 #ai ,w4 ,brendon and ,son1 ,plymouth4 ,,footnotes3 #a ,from the ,latin for seventy1 this being the supposed number of the translators4 ,it is referred to as the translation of the ,seventy ,elders so early as the middle of the second century4 ,see ,justin ,martyr1 ,dialogue with ,trypho1 c4 #fh4 #b ,see ,philo ,judus1 ,life of ,moses1 book ii4 ,josephus1 ,antiquities1 xii4 ii4 #e1 #aa1 #ab1 #ad4 ,eusebius1 ,eccl4 ,hist41 v4 #h4 ,josephus states that the translation was made by seventy-two elders in seventy-two days4 ,the story as given in ,eusebius is1 that the seventy elders were placed apart in seventy different cells1 that each translated the entire ,scriptures1 and that the seventy translations when compared were found to agree to a word4 #c ,and this he gave1 not by any formal enactment1 but by using ,jerome's translation as the basis of his own ,exposition of the ,book of ,job4 7,see ,gregory's ,letter to ,leander1 forming the preface to that work47 ,the old version of the ,psalms retained its ground apparently from its close connection with the music of the ,church4 ,from a like cause the old version of the ,english ,psalms1 which in fact was made from the ,latin of the ,vulgate1 retains its place in the ,psalter of the ,prayer ,book4 ,it should however be noted that it is but the translation of the translation of a translation4 #d ,anglo-,saxon ,chronicle1 ,a4,d4 #gji4 #e 8,i have seen a book at ,crowland ,abbey1 which is kept there for a relic4 ,the book is called ,saint ,guthlake's ,psalter1 and ,i weene verily that it is a copy of the same that the king did translate2 for it is neither ,english1 ,latin1 ,greek1 ,hebrew1 nor ,dutch1 but something sounding to our ,english2 and as ,i have perceived since the time ,i was last there1 being at ,antwerp1 the ,saxon tongue doth sound likewise1 and it is to ours partly agreeable40 ,the answer of ,john ,lambert to the twenty-sixth of the ,articles laid against him4 7,,foxe1 ,acts and ,monuments1 vol4 v4 p4 #bac47 #f ,the ,chronicle of ,florence of ,worcester1 ,a4,d4 #fii1 and ,a4,d4 #gad4 #g ,many of the clergy were probably at this time unable to interpret the ,latin ,bibles used in the ,church services4 ,several ,,mss4 exist which have an ,english translation 7gloss7 inserted between the lines by writers of the ninth or tenth centuries4 ,one of these1 the 8,lindisfarne ,gospels10 now in the ,british ,museum1 is a most richly-adorned ,,ms4 ,it was written by one bishop of ,lindisfarne1 and ornamented by another1 and was encased in jewelled covers4 ,over each ,latin word is written its equivalent in ,english 7,anglo-,saxon74 ,this1 as is explained by a note at the end1 was done by one 8,aldred1 the priest10 and1 as his handwriting shows1 in the tenth century4 ,it cannot be supposed that this was done for the benefit of ordinary readers4 ,so valued a ,,ms4 would not be likely to come into any other hands than those of the clergy or the monks4 #h ,there is no direct evidence for the existence at an earlier date of any translation of the entire ,scriptures into any form of ,english4 ,in an interesting tract 7commonly assigned to the earlier part of the fifteenth century1 and printed by ,foxe in the first edition of his ,acts and ,monuments1 #aefc71 entitled1 8,a ,compendious ,old ,treatise1 showing how that we ought to have the ,scripture in ,english40 ,it is stated1 8,also a man of ,london1 whose name was ,wyring1 had a ,bible in ,english1 of northern speech1 which was seen of many men1 and it seemed to be two hundred years old40 7,,foxe1 ,acts and ,monuments1 vol4 iv4 p4 #fgd47 ,it cannot1 however1 be inferred from this statement that the volume referred to was a complete ,bible4 #i ,see ,appendix ,a4 #aj ,as many as one hundred and fifty manuscripts1 containing the whole or parts of ,purvey's ,bible1 are still in existence1 and the majority of these were written within forty years from the time of its completion4--,,forshall and ,,madden1 ,wycliffite ,versions of the ,holy ,bible1 ,preface1 p4 xxxiii4 #aa ,no portion of the ,wycliffe ,bible was printed until #agca1 when the ,new ,testament1 in the later of its forms1 was published by the ,rev4 ,john ,lewis1 of ,margate4 ,this was reprinted in #ahaj1 under the editorship of the ,rev4 ,henry ,baber4 ,the complete ,bible was not printed till so recently as #ahej1 in the splendid volumes issued from the ,university press of ,oxford1 and edited by the ,rev4 ,j4 ,forshall and ,rev4 ,f4 ,madden4 #ab ,the first work known to have been printed with moveable metal type is the ,latin ,bible1 issued from the press of ,john ,gutenberg at ,maintz1 #adej-ee4 ,this ,bible is sometimes referred to as the ,mazarin ,bible1 from the accidental circumstance that a copy of it was found about the middle of last century in ,cardinal ,mazarin's library at ,paris4 7,,hallam1 ,literature of ,europe1 vol4 i4 p4 #baj47 ,with more propriety it may be called the ,gutenberg ,bible4 #ac ,see ,appendix ,c4 #ad ,mr4 ,blunt1 in his article 8,english ,bible10 in the ,encyclopdia ,britannica1 maintains that ,coverdale translated directly from the ,hebrew and ,greek4 ,but in order to this he has1 first1 forcibly to set aside the statement on the title-page as 8placed there by mistake10 and then to represent ,coverdale as including the ,hebrew and ,greek originals in the same category as ,latin1 ,german1 and ,english translations1 and as describing them all as 8five interpreters0 from which he had translated4 #ae ,this license seems to have been obtained from the king by ,cromwell at ,cranmer's suggestion4 7,see ,cranmer's ,letter to ,cromwell1 ,august #dth1 #aecg4 ,remains and ,letters1 p4 #cdd4 ,parker ,society47 ,in this letter ,cranmer thus expresses his opinion of the book3 8,and as for the translation1 as far as ,i have read thereof ,i like it better than any other translation heretofore made2 yet not doubting but that there may be and will be found some fault therein1 as you know no man ever did or can do so well1 but it may be from time to time amended4 ,and forasmuch as the book is dedicated unto the king's grace1 and also great pains and labour taken in setting forth of the same3 ,i pray you1 my lord1 that you will exhibit the book unto the king's highness1 and to obtain of his grace1 if you can1 a license that the same may be sold and read of every person1 without danger of any act1 proclamation1 or ordinance1 heretofore granted to the contrary1 until such time as we bishops shall set forth a better translation1 which ,i think will not be till a day after doomsday40 #af ,the full title is1 8,the ,byble in ,englyshe1 that is to saye the content of all the holy scrypture1 bothe of the olde and newe testament1 truly translated after the veryte of the ,hebrue and ,greke textes by ye dylygent studye of dyuerse excellent learned men1 expert in the forsayde tongues4 ,prynted by ,rychard ,grafton and ,edward ,whitchurch4 ,cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum4 #aeci40 #ag ,this was more than compensated by the remarkable and interesting engraving1 said to be designed by ,hans ,holbein1 which formed the title-page4 ,herein the king is flattered to his heart's content4 ,on the top of the engraving the king on his knees and uncrowned is addressed by our ,lord in the words1 8,i have found a man after mine own heart1 who shall fulfil all my will40 ,below this the king on his throne distributes books labelled 8,verbum ,dei10 the ,word of ,god1 to the clergy with his right hand1 to ,cromwell and others with the left4 ,lower down on the right of the page is the figure of ,cromwell distributing the books to the laity1 and on the left that of ,cranmer distributing it to the clergy4 ,at the bottom of the page is a crowd of people of all sorts and conditions1 some crying out in ,latin1 8,vivat ,rex0 others in ,english1 8,god save the king40 #ah ,with the title1 8,the ,most ,sacred ,bible1 which is the ,holy ,scripture1 conteyning the old new testament translated into ,english1 newly recognised with great diligence after most faythful exemplars1 by ,rychard ,taverner4 ,harken thou heuen1 thou earth gyve eare3 for the ,lorde speaketh4 ,esaie i4 ,printed at ,london in ,fletestrete at the sygne of the sonne by ,john ,byddell1 for ,thomas ,barthlet4 ,cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum ,m4,d4 ,,xxxix40 #ai ,in ,fox1 ,acts and ,monuments1 v4 #dbh1 amongst the names of 8godly brethren at ,oxford0 suspected of heresy1 and compelled to do public penance1 mention is made of 8,taverner the musician10 of 8,friswide ,college0 7,frideswede1 now ,christ ,church72 and again1 v4 #dbc1 ,anthony ,dalaber says1 8,i stode at the quier door and heard ,master ,taverner play40 ,dr4 ,,eadie1 ,the ,english ,bible1 i4 #cdc1 assumes that the reference in this last passage is to ,richard ,taverner2 but far more probably the reference is to ,john ,taverner1 who1 according to ,,wood1 ,athen ,oxoniensis1 i4 #abd1 was 8sometime organist of ,cardinal ,college40 ,i find no other foundation than these doubtful passages for the statement made by ,,westcott1 ,history of the ,english ,bible1 ed4 #b1 p4 #he1 and by ,,eadie1 loc4 cit41 that ,richard ,taverner was one of those who suffered persecution upon the first circulation of ,tyndale's ,new ,testament4 #bj ,see ,,cotton1 ,editions of the ,english ,bible1 p4 #ba4 #ba ,from this circumstance the ,great ,bible is often1 but improperly1 called ,cranmer's ,bible4 8,the ,prologue or ,preface made by ,thomas ,cranmer sometime ,archbishop of ,canterbury10 is prefixed to many ,bibles1 to some editions of the ,genevan1 and to the ,bishops4 #bb ,the dates of these editions1 as given in the colophons1 are1 ,july1 #aedj2 ,november1 #aedj 7#aeda on title-page72 ,may1 #aeda2 ,november1 #aeda2 ,december1 #aeda4 #bc ,he married ,catherine1 sister of ,john ,calvin4 ,an interesting account of 8,the ,life and ,death of ,mr4 ,william ,whittingham1 ,deane of ,durham1 who departed this life ,a4,d4 #aegi1 ,june #aj10 found amongst the papers of ,anthony ,wood1 preserved in the ,bodleian ,library1 is given by ,,dr4 ,,lorimer1 ,john ,knox and the ,church of ,england1 pp4 #cjc-cag4 #bd ,the dedication to the queen1 prefixed to this volume1 is dated ,geneva1 ,february #ajth1 #aeei4 ,after exhorting the queen to persevere in the reformation of religion1 the writers state that 8albeit they had begun more than a year ago to peruse the ,english ,translation of the ,bible1 and to bring it to the pure simplicity and true meaning of the ,spirit of ,god1 yet when they heard that ,almighty ,god had miraculously preserved her to that most excellent dignity1 with most joyful minds and great diligence they endeavoured themselves to set forth this most excellent ,book of the ,psalms unto her ,grace as a special token of their service and goodwill till the rest of the ,bible1 which was in good readiness1 should be accomplished and presented40 7,,anthony ,,johnson1 ,historical ,account of the ,several ,english ,translations of the ,bible4 ,reprinted in ,,watson',s ,collection of ,theological ,tracts1 vol4 iii4 p4 #hg47 #be verse4 #aeeg4 #aefj4 #a4 out of the way apart #c4 they saw there appeared unto them #d4 here is good beying for us it is good for us to be here #e4 that cloude the cloude my deare sonne my beloved sonne in whom ,i delyte in whom ,i am well pleased #f4 were afrayed were sore afrayde #g4 ,but ,jesus ,then ,jesus #h4 loked up lifted up their eyes #i4 ,see that ye shewe ,shewe be risen rise death the dead #aa4 ,jesus ,and ,jesus #ab4 lusted would ,in like wise likewise #ad4 people multitude #ae4 mercie pitie oft ofttimes #ag4 ,jesus ,then ,jesus how long 7bis74 how long now 7bis7 #ah4 came out went out even that same at that #ai4 secrectly apart #bj4 ,jesus ,and ,jesus if ye had if ye have ye should ye shall it should it shall neither could anything and nothing shall for you to do unto you #bb4 ,as they ,and as they passed the time abode betraied delivered #bc4 and the thyrd but the third sorowed greatly were verie sorie #bd4 were wont to gather received #be4 spake first to him prevented #bg4 thyne angle an angle the fyshe that first the first fish that pay give it unto them #bf ,strype also tells us that the expenses of publication were borne chiefly by ,john ,bodley1 father of ,sir ,thomas ,bodley1 the founder of the ,bodleian ,library at ,oxford4--,life of ,parker1 p4 #bjf4 #bg ,it is very pleasant to read that1 notwithstanding this1 ,parker joined with ,grindal1 ,bishop of ,london1 in pleading for an extension of the patent granted to ,bodley1 in order to enable him to publish the new edition of the ,genevan referred to above4 ,writing1 ,march #ith1 #aefe1 to ,cecil1 the ,queen's ,secretary1 the ,archbishop and ,bishop say1 8,that they thought so well of the first ,impression1 and the ,review of those who had since travelled therein1 that they wisht it would please him to be a ,means1 that ,twelve ,years longer ,term might be by ,special ,privilege granted him1 in consideration of the ,charges by him and his ,associates in the first ,impression1 and the ,review sithence sustained4 ,and that tho' one other special ,bible for the ,churches were meant by them to be set forth1 as convenient ,time and ,leisure hereafter should permit1 yet should it nothing hinder1 but rather do much good1 to have ,diversity of ,translations and ,readings40--,,strype1 ,life of ,parker1 p4 #bjg1 ,folio ,edition4 #bh ,see ,appendix ,g4 #bi ,pagninus was a learned ,dominican1 who published at ,lyons1 in #aebh1 a new translation in ,latin of the ,old and ,new ,testaments4 #cj ,,strype1 ,life of ,parker1 ,appendix1 p4 #aci4 #ca ,ibid1 p4 #cii4 #cb ,in an attack made upon ,protestant versions of the ,scriptures by ,thomas ,ward1 in the reign of ,james ,,ii41 or three-quarters of a century after the publication of the ,authorized ,version1 the writer selects his examples from ,genevan ,bibles of the years #aefb1 #aegg1 and #aegi1 and speaks of this ,bible as 8well known in ,england even to this day1 as being yet in many men's hands40--,errata to the ,protestant ,bible1 p4 #ai1 ed4 #agcg4 #cc ,the ,old ,testament was not published till long afterwards1 when the ,college was once more settled at ,douai4 ,it is hence called the ,douai ,bible4 ,the first volume was published in #afji1 and the second in #afaj4 ,in the preface it is stated that the translation was made 8about thirtie yeares since40 #cd ,amongst the former are advent1 allegory1 anathema1 assumption1 calumniate1 co-operate1 evangelize1 eunuch1 gratis1 holocaust1 neophyte1 paraclete1 pentecost1 victim4 ,amongst the latter are agnition1 azymes1 commessation1 condigne1 contristate1 depositum1 donaries1 exinanited1 parasceue1 pasche1 prefinition1 loaves of proposition1 repropitiate1 superedified4 #ce ,compare the word 8leasowes10 still used in some parts of the country for 8meadows40 #cf 8,of all the ,english versions1 the ,bishops' ,bible had probably the least success4 ,it did not command the respect of scholars1 and its size and cost were far from meeting the wants of the people4 ,its circulation appears to have been practically limited to the churches which were ordered to be supplied with it40--,dr4 ,,plumptre1 ,dictionary of the ,bible1 vol4 iii4 p4 #a1fge4 #cg ,his name is variously spelt ,rainolds1 ,rainoldes1 ,reinolds1 ,reynolds4 #ch ,see ,dr4 ,,william ,,barlow',s ,sum and ,substance of the ,conference which it pleased his ,excellent ,majesty to have with the ,lords ,bishops1 and others of his ,clergy1 in his ,majesty's ,privy ,chamber at ,hampton ,court1 ,jan4 #afjc 7o4s474 ,reprinted in ,the ,phenix3 or a ,revival of ,scarce and ,valuable ,pieces1 p4 #aeg4 ,lond4 #agjg4 #ci ,rendered in the ,bishops' and the ,great ,bible1 8and bordereth upon the city which is now called ,jerusalem10 instead of1 8and answered to ,jerusalem which now is40 #dj ,rendered in the ,great ,bible and ,prayer ,book ,psalter1 8they were not obedient10 instead of1 8they were not disobedient10 as in ,genevan1 or 8they rebelled not10 as in our present ,bibles4 #da ,rendered in the ,great ,bible and ,prayer ,book ,psalter1 8and prayed10 instead of1 8and executed judgment40 #db ,see ,,lewis1 ,history of the ,english ,translations of the ,bible1 p4 #cac2 or ,,eadie1 ,the ,english ,bible1 vol4 ii4 p4 #ahj2 or ,,westcott1 ,history of the ,english ,bible1 p4 #aac4 ,the king's letter is given in full by ,,cardwell1 ,documentary ,annals of the ,reformed ,church of ,england1 vol4 ii4 p4 #fe1 ed4 #ahci4 #dc ,for the names of the ,revisers of #afaa see ,appendix ,h4 #dd ,that is1 the ,great ,bible2 called ,whitchurch's1 from the name of one of the printers4 #de ,,burnet1 ,history of the ,reformation1 part ii41 ,appendix1 p4 #cfh1 ed4 #afha4 #df ,one of whom1 ,dr4 ,samuel ,ward1 had himself taken part in the ,english revision4 #dg ,tables of ,genealogies and a description of the ,holy ,land are found prefixed to many early editions of ,king ,james's ,bible4 #dh ,acta ,synodi ,dordrechti habit1 p4 #ai1 ed4 #afbj4 #di ,,cardwell1 ,documentary ,annals1 vol4 ii4 p4 #fh1 ed4 #ahci4 #ej ,see ,appendix ,f4 #ea ,for a list of the ,revisers see ,appendix ,h4 #eb ,in some cases1 however1 this further subdivision of work seems to have taken place4 ,anthony ,walker1 in his ,life of ,john ,bois1 p4 #dg 7reprinted in ,,peck',s ,desiderata ,curiosa71 says3 8,sure ,i am that ,part of the ,apocrypha was allotted to him 7for he hath showed me the very copy he translated by71 but to my ,grief ,i know not what part40 ,bois was a member of the company to which the ,apocrypha was assigned4 ,walker goes on to say1 8,all the time he was about his own ,part1 his ,commons were given to him at ,st4 ,johns1 where he abode all the week till ,saturday night2 and then he went home to discharge his ,cure1 returning thence on ,monday morning4 ,when he had finished his own part1 at the earnest request of him to whom it was assigned he undertook a ,second1 and then he was to common in another ,college4 ,but ,i forbear to name both the person and the ,house40 #ec ,the bare fact that the ,oxford ,revisers met in ,rainolds' lodgings is mentioned by ,,wood1 ,historia ,univ4 ,oxon41 vol4 i4 p4 #caa1 and is referred to by ,,stoughton1 ,our ,english ,bible1 p4 #bdh4 #ed ,,fuller',s ,abel ,redivivus1 p4 #dhg4 ,in his ,church ,history1 book x4 p4 #dh1 ,fuller says of ,rainolds that he was a man deserving of the epitaph4 8,incertum est utrum ,doctior an ,melior40 8,we know not which was the greater1 his learning or his goodness40 #ee ,,peck1 ,desiderata ,curiosa1 p4 #dg4 #ef ,it is clear1 from the words which immediately follow1 that the writer uses the word 8company0 here for the entire number of translators belonging to any one of the three centres4 ,in the written account presented to the ,synod of ,dort by the ,english delegates1 it is said that twelve persons1 selected out of the companies1 met together1 and reviewed and corrected the entire work4 ,wood also 7,athen ,oxon41 vol4 i4 p4 #dij7 gives twelve as the number of the 8selected10 and amongst them includes ,bilson and ,miles ,smith4 #eg ,the writer quaintly remarks in a parenthesis1 8,though ,mr4 ,downes would not go till he was either fetcht or threatened with the ,pursuivant40 #eh ,lewis 7,history of the ,english ,translations of the ,bible1 p4 #cbc7 by a strange blunder turns these shillings into pounds4 #ei ,walker adds1 8,whilst they were employed in this last business1 he and he only took notes of their proceedings1 which notes he kept till his dying day40 ,if these notes could be recovered they would throw much light upon many points of interest in connection with the ,revision of #afaa4 #fj ,,fuller1 ,church ,history1 book x4 p4 #eg4 #fa ,see ,mr4 ,,henry ,,stevens1 ,printed ,bibles in the ,caxton ,exhibition1 p4 #aaj4 ,but if ,mr4 ,stevens be right in this contention1 the publisher can scarcely be held free from the charge of false suggestion1 since the phrase occurs in earlier ,bibles in the sense which it most naturally bears4 ,in the edition of the ,great ,bible dated ,april1 #aedj1 we have on the title-page3 8,this is the ,byble apoynted to the use of the churches10 and the meaning of this is shown by the fuller form that appears in the title-page of the edition of ,november1 #aedj1 8auctorysed and apoynted by the commaundement of oure moost redoubted ,prynce and soveraygne ,lorde ,kynge ,henrye the ,,viii4 444 to be frequented and used in every churche within this his sayd realme40 ,an edition of the ,bishops' ,bible dated #aehe has the inscription1 8,authorized and appointed to be read in ,churches20 and ,king ,charles ,,ii4's ,declaration to all ,his ,loving ,subjects1 is 8,appointed to to be ,read in all ,churches and ,chapels within this kingdom40 #fb ,the latest quarto edition of the ,genevan published in ,england bears the date #afae1 the latest folio1 #afaf4 #fc ,this edition has hence been described by ,bible collectors as the 8,wicked ,bible40 ,the error was of course speedily discovered and the edition suppressed4 ,archbishop ,laud fined the printer in the sum of #cjj1 and with this he is said to have bought a fount of ,greek type for the ,university of ,oxford4 #fd ,in the reign of ,charles ,,ii4 a silly report was set afloat that ,field1 the printer of what is known as the ,pearl ,bible of #afec1 had received a present of #a1ejj from the ,independents to introduce this corruption into the text4 ,see ,d',,israeli',s ,curiosities of ,literature1 ,art4 ,pearl ,bible4 ,mr4 ,d',israeli must have been ignorant of the fact that this error occurs in ,bibles printed fifteen years earlier than the ,pearl ,bible1 and by the ,university ,press1 ,cambridge4 #fe ,this may possibly have been a change deliberately made by the editor1 who either had a different ,greek text or followed the ,vulgate2 but even in that case it would be a very awkward way of rendering the text before him4 #ff ,this he has done1 professedly1 in the attempt to represent the version of #afaa1 8so far as may be1 in the precise shape that it would have assumed if its venerable translators had shown themselves more exempt than they were from the failings incident to human infirmity2 or if the same severe accuracy which is now demanded in carrying so important a volume through the press had been deemed requisite1 or was at all usual in their age40--,introduction to ,cambridge ,paragraph ,bible1 p4 i4 #fg ,the ,,lxx4 and ,vulgate are here right2 so also ,wycliffe1 who1 translating from the ,latin1 renders1 8,seven trompes1 whos vse is in the iubile40 #fh ,wycliffe1 8,stronge men seseden in ,yrael40 #fi ,here again the ,,lxx41 ,vulgate1 and ,wycliffe are right4 ,wycliffe renders1 8of whom shulen be alle the best thingis of ,yrael40 #gj ,the ,,lxx41 ,vulgate1 ,wycliffe1 the ,great ,bible1 the ,genevan1 and the ,bishops'1 all give the true sense4 #ga ,in their rendering of verse #c the ,revisers of #afaa have followed the ,genevan4 ,of the older versions1 the ,great ,bible best renders this verse1 8,all my delyte is upon the saynctes that are in the earth1 and upon suche as excell in vertue40 #gb ,the ,vulgate leads the way in this error4 #gc ,tyndale1 the ,great ,bible1 and the ,genevan render correctly4 #gd ,so the ,rheims1 8,why do you also trangresse the commaundement of ,god for your tradition80 #ge ,so ,wycliffe1 8for they ben feithful and loued1 the whiche ben parceners of benefice20 and the ,rheims1 8because they be faithful and beloued which are partakers of the benefite40 #gf ,here all the older versions go wrong4 #gg ,the first four books of the ,annals of ,tacitus are found only in a single ,,ms4 7the ,medicean7 of the eleventh century4 ,the nine books of the ,letters of ,pliny the ,younger are found complete in one ,,ms4 only1 of the tenth century2 this also is in the ,medicean ,library4 #gh ,from the ,latin uncia1 an inch4 #gi ,in some ,,mss4 called palimpsests1 the more ancient1 and to us the more valuable1 writing has been partially washed away1 in order that the vellum might be used again for some more recent work4 ,in these cases it is exceedingly difficult to decipher1 beneath the later and darker writing1 the traces of the older writing2 indeed1 not unfrequently the characters are so faded that they cannot be read at all until revived by some chemical preparation4 ,the ,ephraem ,codex is a ,,ms4 of this kind4 #hj ,commonly referred to under the symbol 1 the ,hebrew letter1 ,aleph4 #ha ,referred to as ,b4 #hb ,referred to as ,a4 #hc ,referred to as ,c4 #hd ,referred to as ,d of the ,gospels4 #he ,referred to as ,d of the ,epistles4 #hf ,the ,license for its publication was not granted until ,march #bj1 #aebj4 #hg ,namely1 his sole authority for the ,apocalypse4 #hh ,he had previously published two smaller editions 7#afmo71 one in #aedf1 and another in #aedi4 #hi ,now called the ,codex ,regius1 and denoted by ,l4 #ij ,the collation of the eight ,parisian ,,mss4 was done for him by his son ,henry1 then a youth of eighteen4 #ia ,at ,geneva1 whither he had deemed it prudent to remove shortly after the publication of his celebrated edition of the ,greek ,new ,testament4 #ib ,works1 vol4 vi4 p4 #aid4 #ic ,the draft of this ,bill is preserved in the ,state ,paper ,office 7,domestic ,interreg41 ,bundle #ffb1 f4 #ab71 and is given in full by ,dr4 ,,stoughton1 ,church of the ,commonwealth1 p4 #edc4 #id ,errata to the ,protestant ,bible1 ,pref4 p4 #c41 ed4 #agcg4 #ie ,in the library of ,trinity ,college1 ,dublin1 there is a manuscript in three volumes of an ,english version of the ,bible1 by ,ambrose ,ussher1 brother of ,archbishop ,ussher4 ,the date assigned to it is about #afbj4 ,it does not1 however1 seem to be in any proper sense a revision of the version of #afaa1 but rather an independent revision based upon the earlier versions4 ,in an 8epistle dedicatorie0 to ,james ,i4 the writer describes himself as having 8leisurelie and seasonablie dressed0 and 8served out this other dish0 while ,his ,majesty was 8a doing on0 the 8seasonable sudden meale0 which the translators had hastily prepared4 ,he further states that he did not oppose 8to our new translation old interpretationes alreadie waighed and reiected10 but 8fresh and new that yeeld new consideration and that fight not onlie with our ,english ,bible1 but likelie with all translated bibles in what language soeuer and contrarieth them40 ,as far as can be gathered from the examination of a single chapter1 the work seems chiefly based upon the ,genevan4 ,the version is incomplete4 ,vol4 i4 contains ,genesis1 ,exodus1 ,leviticus1 ,numbers1 ,deuteronomy1 ,joshua 7imperfect71 ,judges1 ,ruth1 ,samuel2 vol4 ii4 contains ,kings1 ,chronicles1 ,ezra1 ,nehemiah 7imperfect71 ,esther1 and a ,latin version of part of ,joshua2 vol4 iii4 contains ,job1 ,psalms 7partly in ,latin71 ,proverbs1 ,song of ,solomon1 ,ecclesiastes1 ,isaiah1 ,jeremiah1 ,lamentations1 ,ezekiel1 ,daniel 7partly in ,latin71 the ,minor ,prophets1 the first chapter of ,st4 ,john's ,gospel1 ,romans1 ,corinthians1 ,philemon1 ,james1 ,peter1 ,john1 ,apocalypse 7partly in ,latin71 ,jude4--,royal ,commission on ,historical ,manuscripts1 ,fourth ,report1 pp4 #ehi-eih4 #if ,the ,life and ,death of ,mr4 ,henry ,jessey1 p4 #dg4 #ig ,mace's rendering of ,james iii4 #e1 #f is the passage most frequently quoted in illustration of his style4 8,so the tongue is but a small part of the body1 yet how grand are its pretensions1 a spark of fire6 what quantities of timber will it blow into a flame8 the tongue is a brand that sets the world in a combustion1 it is but one of the numerous organs of the body1 yet it can blast whole assemblies3 tipped with infernal sulphur it sets the whole train of life in a blaze40 ,it is but right1 however1 to state that this is perhaps the very worst passage in the book4 ,the following verses are a fair specimen of his ordinary style4 ,acts xix4 #h1 #i3 8,at length ,paul went to the synagogue1 where he spoke with great freedom1 and for three months he conferred with them to persuade them of the truth of the evangelical kingdom1 but some of them being such obdurate infidels as to inveigh against the institution before the populace1 he retired1 and taking the disciples with him1 he instructed them daily in the school of one ,tyrannus40 ,a yet more offensive specimen of this style of translation was supplied by the ,new ,testament published in #agfh1 by ,e4 ,harwood1 and entitled1 ,a literal translation of the ,new ,testament1 being an attempt to translate the ,sacred ,writings with the same ,freedom1 ,spirit1 and ,elegance with which other ,english ,translations from the ,greek ,classics have lately been executed2 a work which1 however faithfully it may represent the inflated and stilted style which then prevailed1 can now be read only with astonishment and disgust4 #ih ,worsley died before the publication of the volume4 ,it was edited by ,m4 ,bradshaw and ,s4 ,worsley4 #ii ,in #c vols41 #hvo4 ,a second edition in #b vols41 #hvo41 was published in #agie4 ,memoirs of ,gilbert ,wakefield1 vol4 i4 p4 #cee2 vol4 ii4 p4 #dfh4 #ajj ,the work was intended to form eight vols4 #dto4 #aja ,,scrivener1 ,introduction to the ,criticism of the ,new ,testament1 p4 #cig4 #ajb ,eclectic ,review1 ,january1 #ahji1 p4 #ca4 #ajc ,lectures on the ,criticism and ,interpretation of the ,bible1 p4 #big1 ed4 #ahbh4 ,the italics are ,dr4 ,marsh's own4 #ajd ,the members of this first joint ,committee were ,dr4 ,wilberforce1 ,dr4 ,ellicott1 ,dr4 ,thirlwall1 ,dr4 ,ollivant1 ,dr4 ,e4 ,h4 ,browne 7,bishop of ,ely71 ,dr4 ,chr4 ,wordsworth 7,bishop of ,lincoln71 and ,dr4 ,g4 ,moberly 7,bishop of ,salisbury72 ,dr4 ,bickersteth 7the ,prolocutor72 ,deans ,alford1 ,jeremie1 and ,stanley2 ,archdeacons ,rose1 ,freeman1 and ,grant2 ,chancellor ,massingberd2 ,canons ,blakesley1 ,how1 ,selwyn1 ,swainson1 and ,woodgate2 ,dr4 ,kay1 ,dr4 ,jebb1 and ,mr4 ,de ,winton4 #aje ,the ,convocation of ,york declined to take part in the revision1 on the ground that in their judgment the time was unfavourable for such a work4 #ajf ,canon ,selwyn had persistently advocated the claims of revision1 and had brought it before the ,notice of the ,lower ,house of ,convocation so early as ,march #ast1 #ahef4 ,notice of a renewed motion on the question had been given by him for the meeting of ,convocation on ,february1 #ahgj1 and was only withdrawal when superseded by the proposal sent down on ,february #aath from the ,upper ,house4 #ajg ,canon ,cook1 ,dr4 ,j4 ,h4 ,newman1 ,canon ,pusey1 and ,dr4 ,w4 ,wright4 ,dr4 ,wright1 however1 subsequently joined the ,old ,testament ,company4 #ajh ,dr4 ,s4 ,p4 ,tregelles4 #aji ,now ,bishop of ,winchester4 #aaj ,now ,dean of ,canterbury4 #aaa ,now ,dean of ,peterborough4 #aab ,now ,d4,d4 #aac ,now ,bursar4 #aad ,now ,dean of ,lichfield4 #aae ,now ,dean of ,lincoln4 #aaf ,now ,d4,d4 and ,hulsean ,professor of ,divinity1 ,cambridge4 #aag ,now ,bishop of ,durham4 #aah ,now ,d4,d41 and ,master of the ,leys ,school1 ,cambridge4 #aai ,now ,d4,d41 ,principal of ,new ,college1 ,london1 and ,lee ,professor of ,divinity4 #abj ,now ,professor of ,humanity1 ,st4 ,andrews4 #aba ,now ,dean of ,rochester4 #abb ,now ,,ll4,d4 #abc ,now ,principal of the ,presbyterian ,college1 ,carmarthen4 #abd ,now also ,dean of ,llandaff4 #abe ,now also ,regius ,professor of ,divinity1 ,cambridge4 #abf ,now ,lady ,margaret ,preacher1 ,cambridge4 #abg ,now ,archdeacon of ,oxford4 #abh ,corresponding ,member4 #abi ,these have been thus distributed3 ,bishop of ,gloucester #dje ,dr4 ,scrivener #cii ,mr4 ,humphry #che ,dr4 ,newth #cgc ,dr4 ,hort #cfb ,dean of ,lichfield #ceb ,dean of ,rochester #ccg ,canon ,westcott #cjd ,dean of ,llandaff #cjb ,dean of ,lincoln #big ,bishop of ,durham #bij ,archdeacon ,lee #bhc ,dr4 ,moulton #bga ,archdeacon ,palmer #bee ,dean of ,westminster #bec ,dr4 ,vance ,smith #bde ,dr4 ,brown #bji ,dr4 ,angus #aii ,dr4 ,milligan #ahb ,canon ,kennedy #afe ,dr4 ,eadie #ace ,bishop of ,salisbury #aba ,bishop of ,st4 ,andrews #aji ,dr4 ,roberts #id ,archbishop of ,dublin #fc ,dean ,merivale #ai ,dean ,alford #af ,bishop ,wilberforce #a #acj ,as the original would be very obscure to many of my readers1 ,i have somewhat reluctantly decided to give the modern spelling and the modern equivalent for obsolete words4 #aca ,psalm lxxxvii4 #f is thus rendered in the ,wycliffite versions1 after the ,vulgate and ,,lxx4 ,the ,,lxx4 here differs from the ,hebrew4 #acb ,the word ,judah1 from which 8,jew0 is derived1 is from a ,hebrew verb1 meaning 8to praise40 7,see ,gen4 xxix4 #ce2 xlix4 #h47 #acc ,by 8sentence0 ,purvey commonly means 8sense10 or 8meaning40 #acd ,that is1 if he examine many copies1 and especially those of recent date4 #ace ,,augustine1 ,christian ,doctrine1 book ii41 c4 xi4 #acf ,bohemians4 #acg ,,augustine1 ,christian ,doctrine1 b4 ii4 c4 xii4 #ach ,wisdom1 iv4 #c4 #aci ,this ,prologue contains but little in the way of historical information4 ,it has this especial interest1 that it is the preface of the first printed portion of the ,english ,bible4 #adj ,imitate4 #ada ,changed in later editions1 first into 8,to the diligent and ,christian ,reader4 ,grace1 mercie1 and peace1 through ,christ ,jesus10 and then 8,to the ,christian ,reader0 simply4 #adb ,whittingham had previously done the same in his ,new ,testament of #aeeg4 ,in his address 8,to the ,reader0 he says3 8,and because the ,hebrewe and ,greke phrases1 which are strange to rendre in other tongues1 and also short1 shulde not be to hard1 ,i haue sometyme interpreted them without any whit diminishing the grace of the sense1 as our lgage doth vse them1 and sometyme have put to that worde which lacking made the sentence obscure1 but haue set it in such letters as may easily be discerned from the cmun text40 ,in some later editions of the ,genevan ,bible1 printed in black letter1 this clause is altered into 8wee have put in the text between these two markes such worde or verbe as doth more properlie explane or manifest the text in our tongue40 #adc ,to the end that4 #add #ade #adf ,circa annum #ijj4 ,b4 ,rhenan4 rerum ,german lib4 #b4 #adg ,,strype1 ,life of ,parker1 b4 iv4 c4 #bj2 ,,johnson1 ,historical ,account1 p4 #hg2 ,,burnet1 ,history of the ,reformation1 part ii4 book iii4 p4 #djf1 ed4 #afha4 #adh ,the ,psalms were in the first instance assigned to ,guest1 ,bishop of ,rochester4 ,it is probable that the ,archbishop was dissatisfied with ,guest's work1 and on good grounds1 for he despatched it very quickly1 and forwarded it to the ,archbishop with a letter1 in which he thus sets forth his estimate of his duty as a translator3 8,i have not altered the ,translation but where it giveth occasion of an error4 ,as in the first ,psalm1 at the beginning ,i turn the preterperfect tense into the present tense2 because the tense is too hard in the preterperfect tense4 ,where in the ,new ,testament one piece of a ,psalm is reported1 ,i translate it in the ,psalm according to the translation thereof in the ,new ,testament1 for the avoiding of the offence that may rise to the people upon diverse translations40 7,,strype1 ,life of ,parker1 b4 iii4 c4 #f2 ,parker ,correspondence1 ,,parker1 sec4 ed4 p4 #bej47 #adi ,parker ,correspondence1 ,,parker1 sec4 ed4 p4 #cce4 #aej ,hist4 of ,ref41 part ii4 book iii4 p4 #djf1 ed4 #afha4 #aea ,collection of ,records1 part ii4 book iii4 number #aj4 #aeb ,probably a misprint for ,harmer4 #aec ,,cardwell1 ,documentary ,annals1 vol4 ii4 p4 #aaj4 #aed ,barlow was present at the ,hampton ,court ,conference in ,january1 #afja1 and all accounts describe him as then ,dean of ,chester2 and his narrative of the ,conference1 published in #afjd1 is described as 8contracted by ,william ,barlow1 ,doctor of ,divinity1 and ,dean of ,chester40 ,sir ,peter ,leycester1 ,hist4 ,antiq4 of ,cheshire1 p4 #afi1 states that ,barlow was appointed ,dean in #afjc4 #aee ,bishop of ,chichester1 ,november #crd1 #afje2 ,bishop of ,ely1 #afji2 ,bishop of ,winchester1 #afai4 #aef ,bishop of ,lichfield1 ,april1 #afad2 ,bishop of ,norwich1 #afah4 #aeg ,subsequently ,regius ,professor of ,hebrew1 ,cambridge4 #aeh ,lively died ,may1 #afje1 and hence could not have taken any active part in the ,revision4 #aei ,afterwards ,d4,d41 and successively ,master of ,peterhouse and of ,trinity ,college4 #afj ,succeeded ,dr4 ,duport in the ,mastership of ,jesus ,college1 ,cambridge4 #afa ,succeeded ,mr4 ,lively as ,regius ,professor of ,hebrew4 #afb ,afterwards ,rector of ,exeter ,college1 ,oxford4 #afc ,afterwards ,bishop of ,gloucester4 #afd ,master of ,sidney ,college1 ,january1 #afji2 ,archdeacon of ,taunton1 #afae2 ,vice-,chancellor1 ,cambridge1 #afbj2 ,lady ,margaret ,professor of ,divinity1 #afba4 #afe ,afterwards ,d4,d41 ,prebendary of ,chichester1 and ,rector of ,bishop's ,waltham1 ,hants4 #aff ,bishop of ,gloucester1 ,march #aith1 #afje2 ,bishop of ,london1 ,may #ahth1 #afjg4 #afg ,bishop of ,lichfield and ,coventry1 #afji2 ,bishop of ,london1 #afaj4 #afh ,died ,november1 #afjd1 and hence could have taken no part in the work of the ,company4 ,his name is not mentioned by ,wood in the list given in ,hist4 et ,antiq4 ,univ4 ,oxon41 i4 p4 #caa1 ed4 #afgd4 #afi ,knighted at ,windsor1 ,september #bast1 #afjd4 #agj ,,wood1 ,athen ,oxoniensis1 i4 #cee4 #aga ,ibid1 i4 #egj4 #agb ,subsequently1 on the death of ,rainolds1 ,president of ,corpus ,christi ,college4 ,dr4 ,,westcott1 ,history of ,english ,bible1 sec4 ed4 p4 #aag1 and ,dr4 ,,moulton1 ,history of ,english ,bible1 p4 #aif1 both have ,dr4 ,t4 ,spencer1 but his name1 as inscribed on the monument in the ,chapel of ,corpus ,christi ,college1 is ,,iohannes ,,spenser1 and is so given by ,wood4 ,transcriber's ,notes3 ,passages in italics are indicated by italics4 ,passages in bold are indicated by bold4 ,superscripted characters are indicated by superscript4